Wine tasting: how to compare aroma, flavor and finish

A wine tasting becomes more interesting when you can explain why two wines taste different. You don't need to be a sommelier for that. By always using the same order — look, smell, taste and assess — you will more quickly recognize acidity, sweetness, tannin and the length of the finish. This guide provides a simple method that you can apply at home right away.

Preparation: what do you need?

Make sure you have clean, odor-free glasses, neutral water, optionally a piece of neutral bread and sufficient light. Do not serve wine ice-cold or unpleasantly warm. Strong perfume, incense or scented candles can interfere with smelling. When comparing, preferably use the same type of glasses and equal amounts of wine.

You don't need a collection of specialized glasses. A reliable universal glass is sufficient for the first tasting sessions; the Mémoire Amore wine glasses of 450 ml are, for example, a versatile option. For richer white wine, such as full-bodied Chardonnay, the Céleste Grande of 600 ml has a wider bowl. Also check which glasses suit different wine styles.

Step 1: look at the wine

Hold the glass against a neutral light background and look at clarity, color intensity and color tone. White can vary from pale lemon yellow to gold; red from purple-red to garnet red. A color can give clues, but is never proof in itself of age, origin or quality.

Step 2: smell first without swirling

Bring your nose gently to the opening of the glass and smell briefly. What first impression do you get? Think of fruit, flowers, spices, wood or earthy notes. You don't have to immediately name a precise scent such as 'black cherry' or 'cedar'. Start with broad categories: fruity, spicy, floral or otherwise.

Step 3: swirl the glass and smell again

Make small circles with the glass while the foot remains on the table. This increases the contact surface of the wine with air and can more easily bring aromatic substances to the nose. Smell again: does the intensity change or do you discover a new scent? Do not swirl so hard that wine comes out of the bowl.

Step 4: taste a small sip

Take a modest sip and let the wine move over your tongue. Pay separate attention to sweetness (dry to sweet), acidity (low to high), tannin especially in red wine (astringent feeling), alcohol warmth and body (light to full). Tannin is not the same as bitterness, although both can occur together.

Step 5: assess the finish

What remains when you have swallowed or spat out the wine? With a long finish, pleasant taste and scent sensations remain noticeable for longer. A longer finish is one possible quality characteristic, but does not say everything; balance and complexity remain important.

Step 6: draw a conclusion

Use three questions: are the flavors in balance, does the wine remain interesting and would you want to drink it again? 'Tasty' is a legitimate personal assessment; a systematic tasting note helps explain why.

Simple tasting scheme

Do you want to compare your observations on paper? Download the free tasting form for wine. Page 2 has four tasting cards with space for color, scent, acidity, body, tannin, finish and your personal rating.

Which order do you choose during a tasting?

There is no mandatory order, but with strongly different styles, often go from lighter to fuller and from drier to sweeter. A full-bodied sweet wine can make a subtle dry wine come across differently when you taste it directly afterwards. Do you want to compare one grape from different countries, such as Chardonnay from South Africa, California and New Zealand? Pour equal small tasting portions and keep the tasting conditions the same. This way you limit unnecessary differences in quantity, temperature and glass.

How much wine do you use for thirteen participants?

A 750 ml bottle provides fifteen portions at 50 ml per person and twelve full portions plus 30 ml at 60 ml per person. For thirteen participants, 50–55 ml per person is therefore a practical tasting amount from one bottle. If you want to enjoy the wine extensively instead of just assessing it, preferably choose two bottles. For further planning, see organizing a wine tasting at home.

Should you decant wine for a tasting?

Not as a standard. Young, closed red wine can benefit from careful aeration, but in a comparative tasting, unwanted differences can arise if one wine is aerated for hours and another is poured directly. Optionally taste first without decanting and note a second impression after some air contact. See when decanting wine makes sense.

Frequently asked questions

Can you spit out wine during a tasting?

Yes. Especially with many wines, spitting out is customary to remain clear in assessment. Make sure you have a suitable spittoon and water.

What temperature is good for wine tasting?

That varies per wine style. Too cold often dampens aromas and too warm can make alcohol prominent. See temperature guidelines for wine.

Do you have to be able to recognize complicated scents?

No. A simple, consistent description such as 'fresh acidity and red fruit' is more useful than a long list of uncertain aromas.