How to Taste Wine Like a Pro: A Step-by-Step Guide

The four steps

First, look at the wine's colour and clarity — tilt the glass against white. Second, swirl to release aromas and smell, identifying fruity, floral, earthy or spicy notes. Third, taste — let the wine cover your palate and note its acidity, tannin, body and length. Finally, assess the finish: how long do the flavours linger?

• Look — clarity and colour depth
• Smell — primary, secondary and tertiary aromas
• Taste — balance of acid, sugar, tannin, alcohol
• Finish — the key to wine quality

Build a better tasting vocabulary

Instead of vague 'good' or 'yuck', use specific descriptors: citrus or stone fruit, floral, herbal, mineral, oaky, buttery. Practice naming aromas each time you pour.

The fastest way to improve is tasting several wines side by side and comparing them — flights reveal more than solo glasses.