Introduction

Have you ever wondered how wine critics can taste wine and immediately know things like its quality, origin, grape variety, and age? Or have you ever wished you could impress your friends at your next wine-tasting party by being able to do the same?

The truth is, wine tasting is both an art and a science. But don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. All you need to do is follow the 5 S’s of wine tasting and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a wine-tasting pro in no time!

See the Wine

The first S stands for ‘see’. To begin wine tasting, you should take some time to observe the colors and clarity of the wine. What color is the wine? Is it a light yellow or a deep ruby? Does it have any traces of sediment or is it completely clear? All of these observations can tell you a lot about the wine’s age and grape variety. For instance, an aged red wine will generally be more brownish while a young white wine may appear more yellow. You should also assess the wine visually for any signs of deposits or floaters. Generally, these will appear as small strands of sediment or particles that float around in the wine. Large deposits or floaters typically indicate that the wine may not be of great quality. 

Smell the Wine

Now that you’ve seen the wine, it’s time to smell it. To get the most out of the aromas, you should pour a small amount of wine into the glass, swirl it for about 2-3 seconds and then bring your nose close. Take a few short sniffs and then take a few deeper sniffs to capture all the different aromas. As you smell the wine, you’ll start to identify various scents like fruits, flowers, spices, and even wood. You can also get a good sense of the wine’s complexity as well as its overall quality. Differing aromas can allow you to pinpoint the wine’s origin and type accurately. For instance, Cabernet Sauvignon wines usually carry a deep, fruity aroma which is indicative of their origin. 

Slurp the Wine

Next up is ‘slurp’. Now that you’ve seen the wine and smelled it, it’s time to taste it. To do this, you should pour a small amount of wine into your mouth and then quickly slurp air into it. This action will help distribute and mix the wine through your taste buds. This step is also essential for assessing the wine’s body, texture, intensity, balance, and tannins. Is the wine light-bodied or full-bodied? Is it acidic or sweet? All of these observations can be made during this step. 

Swish the Wine

Once you’ve slurped the wine, you should then spend some time swishing it around in your mouth. This will help you identify and note down more subtle flavors which may not have been easy to discern at first. The intensity of the taste should be assessed as it fades away in your mouth. This can help to determine the tannins and acidity levels of the wine. Also, take note of the aftertaste and astringency in the back of your throat. These are good indications of the overall quality and age of the wine. 

Spit the Wine

The final S stands for ‘spit’. This is perhaps the most essential step in the wine-tasting process but for some, it’s also the most difficult idea to accept. The truth is, you don’t have to swallow the wine instead, you can merely swirl and spit the wine out. This will help prevent you from drinking too much and will also help you to remain focused on the task at hand. As you spit the wine out, you can physically observe the viscosity and intensity of the wine. Then all that’s left to do is to take note of all your observations and use them as a foundation for understanding how to better taste wines in the future. 

Conclusion

The 5 S’s of wine tasting can help anyone become a pro taster in no time. All you need to do is look, smell, slurp, swish, and spit your way to expert status! Don’t get overwhelmed, though. Learning how to properly taste wines takes time and practice, so remember to just relax, have fun, and enjoy the tasting process.