Top Wine Tasting Tips Every Beginner Needs to Know

A valuable, delicious part of history and culture, wine is a timeless conversation starter for many. With unique blends, high-quality ingredients, and interesting backgrounds, wine tastings can be a one-of-a-kind experience. But if you’ve never been to one, they can seem intimidating.

Have no fear. If you love wine and are curious about attending a wine tasting, you’ve come to the right place. These wine-tasting tips can help you feel prepared and excited for your next vineyard visit.

Ask Questions

When traveling to a wine destination or taking part in an intimate wine tasting, don’t be afraid to ask questions. While you may think everyone around you is a wine connoisseur, many may have the same questions you do.

It’s important to ask questions that will help you learn more and get the most out of your experience. Some questions and things to know about wine are:

  • What region is this wine/grape from?
  • Which wine has the highest alcohol percentage?
  • What food should I pair with this wine?
  • What is the aging process for this wine?

The answers to this question may surprise you and can help you feel more in the know for your next wine tasting.

Swirl and Sip

If you’ve ever seen anyone try wine, you’ve likely seen them swirl the glass and then sip it. Have you ever wondered what they’re doing? Swirling your glass is key when learning how to taste wine.

Swirling the glass allows oxygen to pass through the liquid and mix up the flavors. While the alcohol in your wine adds an interesting taste, it can also mask hundreds of aromas. By swirling your wine, you’ll reveal a more complex flavor profile.

Smell Your Wine

Smelling your beverage is one main part of how to know your wine. As part of your chemosensory system, your sense of smell provides helpful cues to your brain about taste. When attending a wine tasting, be sure to use your nose for the full experience.

Your sense of smell significantly impacts your tastebuds and can help you determine sweet, fruity, or bitter flavor profiles. All famous etiquette experts agree, as part of wine-tasting etiquette, be sure not to introduce other foreign fragrances into the wine-tasting space. We recommend not wearing heavy cologne or perfume to your wine tasting.

Drink Plenty of Water

At a wine tasting, you may consume more alcohol than expected. While it’s acceptable to spit out wine rather than drink it, most would rather enjoy the full experience. When trying out new wines and consuming different alcoholic beverages, it’s important to hydrate with water.

We recommend drinking a healthy amount of water before, during, and after the wine tasting. Between drinks, consider drinking one glass of water to rehydrate and prevent any grogginess or headaches later on.

Use These Helpful Wine Tasting Tips

If you love the taste of wine, you may enjoy attending a vineyard, winery, or brewery. When attending a wine tasting, be sure to use these helpful wine tasting tips to get the most out of your experience.

Did you enjoy learning about how to go wine tasting? Leave a comment below, and be sure to check out our other helpful articles.


Diana Muniz
Diana Muniz

With over 20+ years of experience in a variety of corporate and entrepreneurial environments, Diana has developed a great understanding of Marketing Strategy, Brand Development, Customer Success, Public Relations and Management. Her internal drive for developing others and external brands, has allowed her to work in some of the largest cities in the world including Milan, Paris, NY, Mexico, and the Middle East. This experience has been fundamental to Diana’s success and ability to communicate cross-culturally.

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