Different ways to enjoy wine
Whether it’s casual sips at home, guided tastings at vineyards, or wine-and-food pairings at restaurants, there’s a tasting for every kind. Solo, with friends, or at events? That’s totally up to you.
Sipping at home
Create a cosy space with comfortable seating and soft lighting. Select a few wines (three to five), focusing on different styles or regions. Taste at your own pace, and don't worry about being an expert. Relax, enjoy, and savour the experience. But most importantly, keep it light and fun.
Tasting events
Attending wine-tasting events or festivals is a fabulous way for beginners to enjoy a social experience while discovering new wines. These events offer the chance to taste a variety of wines and learn from knowledgeable experts, making it a great, educational way to expand your palate and connect with other wine fans.
Get your ticket to the Naked Wines tasting tour
The Naked Wines tasting tour is a great opportunity to try new wines and meet the brains behind the juice.
Visiting wineriesÂ
If you fancy a hands-on, immersive wine-tasting experience, heading to a winery is a great shout. Tasting wines directly at the source lets you learn about the production process firsthand. Research local wineries or plan trips to famous wine regions to deepen your understanding of wine culture and enjoy the full experience of exploring different flavours and techniques.
The 5 steps of wine tasting
Look, swirl, smell, taste, and savour – these steps help you fully appreciate a wine’s colour, aroma, flavour, and finish, which means you can experience its real essence and complexity.
Step 1: LookÂ
Start by holding the glass against a white background to observe the wine's colour and clarity. A deep, rich hue can suggest a full-bodied wine, while lighter tones indicate a younger wine. Reds may range from bright ruby (young) to brick (aged), while whites shift from pale yellow (young) to golden or amber (aged), often hinting at the varietal.
Step 2: Swirl
Swirling the wine helps release its aromas by increasing surface area and allowing unwanted smell molecules to evaporate. This step enhances your ability to evaluate the wine’s body (how full or rich it feels) and concentration, revealing its intensity and complexity. A more pronounced aroma often indicates a wine with a stronger, more developed character.
Step 3: Smell
To smell the wine, take a quick sniff to catch the initial aromas – these are the first scents that hit your nose. Then, take a deeper inhalation to explore more complex notes that may develop. Try to identify fruity, floral, spicy, or earthy aromas. Let your senses guide you as you become more familiar with the wine's profile.
It's ok to stick your nose in and give the wine a good sniff.
Step 4: TasteÂ
Take a small sip and let the wine roll over your palate. Pay attention to the flavours – fruity, spicy, or earthy – and how the wine feels. Notice the acidity, sweetness, and tannins; does it feel smooth or bold? This helps you understand the wine’s structure and balance, and allows you to appreciate its special characteristics.
Step 5: Savour
The finish basically refers to the aftertaste left on your palate once you’ve swallowed the wine. Pay attention to how long it lingers – does it fade quickly or hang around? A long, smooth finish often indicates a high-quality wine, as it suggests depth and complexity. A short finish may signal a simpler, less refined wine.
There's nothing quite like that first sip.
Key terms and phrases
In wine tasting, ‘body’ refers to the weight or fullness of the wine, ranging from light to full-bodied. ‘Acidity’ describes the crisp, refreshing sensation, often found in whites and sparkling wines. ‘Tannins’ are compounds in red wines that create a dry, puckering sensation, adding structure. ‘Balance’ is how well the elements – acidity, sweetness, tannins, and alcohol – harmonise. A balanced wine feels smooth and well-rounded. Understanding these terms will help you better assess and enjoy wines, making it easier to describe what you’re tasting and recognise different styles.
What to focus on
Wine tasting involves evaluating colour, aroma, taste, and finish. Focus on elements like body, acidity, tannins, and balance to fully appreciate the wine’s complexity, character, and overall quality during your tasting.
Body
The ‘body’ of wine refers to its weight or fullness, ranging from light to full. Light-bodied wines feel more delicate and refreshing, while full-bodied wines are richer, with a heavier, more robust texture. The body affects the overall tasting experience, influencing how the wine feels in your mouth and how it pairs with food.
Jane Osborne's Haylock Barossa Shiraz is a great example of a full-bodied, big, Australian red wine.
Balance
Balance in wine occurs when sweetness, acidity, tannins, and alcohol complement each other. Sweetness softens acidity and tannins, while acidity and tannins provide structure and freshness. Alcohol adds warmth without overpowering. When these elements are in harmony, the wine feels smooth and well-rounded, enhancing its overall flavour and drinkability.
Sweetness
Dry wines have little to no sweetness, with most of the sugar fermented into alcohol. Off-dry wines have a slight sweetness. Sweet wines have noticeable sugar content. For example, Sauvignon Blanc is typically dry, Riesling can be off-dry, and Port wine is sweet. The sweetness level affects the wine's flavour and texture.
Flavour
Fruit, spice, and earthiness are key flavour components in wine. Fruit flavours can range from bright, fresh berries to deeper, dried fruits. Spices, like pepper or clove, add warmth. Earthiness might include notes of soil, mushrooms, or tobacco. To identify these, inhale deeply and focus on different layers, noticing if the wine feels fruity, spicy, or earthy.
Aroma
Wine aromas offer valuable clues about its quality and origin. Complex, well-defined aromas often indicate a higher-quality wine, while simpler scents may suggest a more basic one. Different regions and grape varieties produce unique aromatic profiles, such as floral notes from Sauvignon Blanc or earthy scents from Pinot Noir, helping you explore a wine’s character and origin.
Finish
The finish refers to the aftertaste left after swallowing the wine. A lingering, balanced finish is a sign of higher quality, as it indicates depth and complexity. Wines with a short finish may lack these characteristics. A smooth, long finish suggests the wine’s components – acidity, tannins, and flavours – are well-integrated, improving the overall tasting experience.
For a white wine with a crisp finish, try Benjamin Laroche's organic Petit Chablis.
Key points when trying different wines
When tasting wines, consider glassware, serving temperature, and cleansing your palate between tastings. Take notes on aromas, flavours, and overall impressions to remember key details.
Serving temperature
Red wines are best served slightly below room temperature, around 16-18°C, enhancing their flavours and aromas. White wines are ideal when chilled at 7-10°C, bringing out their crispness and acidity. Sparkling wines should be served cold, around 5-7°C, to maintain their bubbliness. Serving wines at the right temperature is key for a good tasting experience, highlighting their full flavour profile.
Glassware
Different glasses play a big role in tasting wines by focusing aromas and directing the wine to specific areas of your palate. Red wine glasses have a wider bowl to allow for aeration, while white wine glasses are more tapered to preserve freshness. Sparkling wine glasses, like flutes, concentrate bubbles and aromas.Â
Cleansing your palate
To cleanse your palate between wine tastings, sip water or chew plain crackers to neutralise lingering flavours. A few apple slices or bread can also refresh your taste buds. Avoid strong-flavoured foods, as they may interfere with the next wine’s flavour. Cleansing your palate ensures each wine is tasted without contamination from previous sips.
Taking notes
Jot down your thoughts on each wine, noting aromas, flavours, and overall impressions. Keeping a wine journal helps track preferences, making it easier to remember what you enjoy. Over time, you'll build a personal collection of notes, improving your wine-tasting skills and enhancing future wine choices. It’s a fun and educational habit.
Wine tasting advice
Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try wines from various regions, grape varieties, and styles. This will help you discover what you like and expand your palate.
Take your time: Wine tasting is a slow, sensory experience. Take your time to observe, smell, taste, and reflect on each wine before moving to the next.
Ask for recommendations: At wine shops or tastings, feel free to ask staff or experts for advice. They can suggest wines based on your preferences or introduce you to new varieties.
Keep a wine journal: Write down your thoughts on each wine – flavours, aromas, and what you liked or didn’t like. This helps track your preferences and guides future wine selections.
Focus on the basics: Start with the fundamentals, like wine’s body, acidity, tannins, and balance. Understanding these terms will boost your appreciation.
Pair with food: Wine and food pairing can take the tasting to new heights. Experiment with different combinations to see how flavours interact.
Stay open-minded: Every wine-tasting experience is a learning opportunity. Be open to new flavours, and don’t worry about being an expert – just go with the flow and enjoy.
Really, it doesn't matter where and how you choose to drink your wine. Just enjoy it.
Wine tasting: From beginner to expert
Wine tasting is a journey that changes over time. As you continue to explore different wines, your palate will develop and refine, revealing new flavours and preferences. Remember, becoming an expert is a gradual process – each tasting is a learning experience. To enhance your knowledge, attend wine masterclasses or read books on wine, where you can learn from professionals. Wine-tasting events and wine clubs offer fantastic opportunities to broaden your horizons by trying a wider range of wines and discussing them with fellow enthusiasts. By embracing these experiences and continuing to experiment, you'll grow your understanding of wine, improving both your tasting skills and enjoyment along the way.
Discover your wine palate with Naked
At Naked Wines, we offer a hand-picked collection of wines tailored to a variety of tastes, helping you discover your personal wine palate. With a range of great options, you're sure to find something you love. Take a look and let us help you get started on your wine tasting journey.
