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Have you ever wondered why tasting wine looks so ritualistic? There is actually meaning behind the madness. This wine-tasting primer will tell you some of the whys and hows of tasting wine.

Pour the Wine
Use a crystal-clear, clean wine glass. The top of the glass should curve slightly inwards to help capture aromas and to help prevent spills during swirlings. Do not fill up the glass more than half full. Always handle your wine glass by the stem to prevent your hands from affecting the temperature of the wine.

Look at the Wine
Tasting wine does not just include the taste buds on your tongue. Tasting wine is an experience that appeals to several of your senses, including sight.

Place your wine glass against a white background so that you can examine the color of the wine easily. You don’t have to use anything extravagant. A white napkin will do. Hold the wine up to light as well. Study the clarity, or clearness, of the wine.

Look at the color of the wine. As you become more experienced, you will start to associate colors with both the age of the wine and the grape that was used to make the wine, particularly with red wines. For example, young red wines tend to be a deeper red and pale as they age.

Smell the Wine
The reason that you only fill the glass up to half full is because of swirling. Swirling your wine increases the mix of air into wine, helping to release the wine’s aromas, or bouquet. If you have more than half a glass of wine, you will not get enough swirl to release all of the wonderful smells of your wine.