How to Improve Your Ability to Taste Wine
Have you ever wondered if some people are just born with a better ability to taste and appreciate wine? Or, can anyone improve their wine tasting abilities over time?
The answer is this: you can improve your wine tasting abilities. While some people may be naturally gifted, tasting wine is a skill that can be developed through practice and experience. Here are some tips to help you improve your wine tasting abilities:
Taste often: The more you taste, the more you'll learn about the different characteristics of wine. Attend tastings, try new varietals, and compare wines from different regions. This can make a very fun weekly event among friends, or a rarer occasion led by a professional.
Take notes: Writing down your observations can help you remember what you've tasted and identify patterns in your preferences. You can keep a wine journal or use a wine tasting app to record your notes. Personally, I would recommend Vivino - an app that allows you to take notes on the wines you drink and store. I’ve found it very useful in the past.
Focus on the senses: Wine tasting involves using all of your senses, not just your taste buds. Pay attention to the wine's appearance, aroma, and texture in addition to its flavor. Try to pick out flavors and aromas that aren’t just “wine” or “grape”. Your brain will trick you into identifying familiar smells and tastes. Roll with those and recognize how your palate responds to these sensations.
Practice with others: Tasting wine with others can help you develop your tasting skills and learn from different perspectives. Join a wine club or attend a class or tasting event.
Educate yourself: Learning about wine production, grape varieties, and wine regions can help you better understand the characteristics of different wines and improve your tasting abilities. There are few better resources for wine education than Wine Folly, and I cannot recommend them highly enough.
So, while some people may have a natural talent for tasting wine, anyone can improve their abilities with practice and education. With time and effort, you can become a more knowledgeable and confident wine taster.
To enjoy a class at home in this very subject, please reach out to me and we will discuss your goals and figure out a fun way of improving those skills over time!