Going to a wine tasting can be a very fun and enjoyable experience. 
However, many people do not attend for fear of not knowing exactly how to act or
what to do. There no great mystery to wine tastings, just a few things you
should remember. 

As far as etiquette, usually the ladies are served before the
gentlemen.  Some wine tastings offer you bottled water.  Use this to
rinse out your mouth between tastings so your palate is clean for the next
wine.  There is often unsalted and unflavored crackers and bread to help
palate cleansing as well.  You should always handle the wine glass by the
stem.  This helps avoid heating the wine with the warmth of your hands,
thus altering the taste.  Avoid wearing strong perfumes and colognes to a
wine tasting.  That may take away from not only your smell, but also that
of the other guests.  Also, avoid smoking, gum, and mints before and during
a wine tasting to be able to enjoy the full flavor of the wine.

You can tell a lot about a wine just by looking at its color.  When you
attend a wine tasting, the glasses should always be clear so you can get a good
look at the wine.  The tables may also be covered with white tablecloths to
help you see the wine's color clearly.  Do not let the wine name full
you.  For example, white wines are not white in color.  They may range
from yellow to green to brown.  Red wines range in color from pale red to a
deep brownish red and often become lighter with age.  Sometimes the color
of a wine may indicate age or flavor.  You may be able to tell the age of a
red wine by doing a rim test.  Tilt the glass slightly towards the rim of
the wine glass and look at the wine.  If the color of the red wine is more
of a purple, it is usually a younger wine.  If the color of the red wine is
brown, it is an older wine. 

Another thing you may have seen people do before they taste wine is swirl it
slightly in the glass.  This is to help open up the wine's flavor. 
Remember that the wine may have been in a bottle anywhere from six months to
many, many years.  When someone swirls a wine, it helps release the
flavors.  Just like when you're cooking at home and stir the food to help
blend the flavors.

The color of the wine is just one aspect you will want to look at when you
attend a wine tasting.  You will also want to smell the wine.  After
swirling, this is the next step in the tasting process.  You have probably
seen people smell wine before and wondered why they did it.  Smell plays a
very important part in what we taste.  Researchers have determined that
perhaps as much as 75% of what we taste is actually based on what we smell
first.  You can smell your wine one of two ways:  taking a small whiff
to get an idea of how the wine smells, then a deeper whiff or take one deep
whiff.  After smelling the wine, take a minute to think about the
smell.   You do not want to immediately taste it after smelling but
give yourself time to explore exactly what you smelled.

Finally, you will need to know is how to taste the wine properly.  Your
tongue has taste buds in both the front and back.  These taste buds can
detect bitter, salty, sweet, and sour flavors, but some are more sensitive than
others are.  There are three steps in tasting a wine:  the first
impression, the taste, and the aftertaste.  The first impression happens
when you take your first drink and the wine actually hits your taste buds. 
It should awaken your sense to the wine.  After taking the first drink, you
should swish the wine around your mouth for a few seconds to let all your taste
buds discover the full flavor of the wine.  Think about what the wine
tastes like.  Is it light or heavy?  Is the smooth or harsh?  The
aftertaste is the sensation that remains in your mouth after swallowing the
wine.  How long did it last and was it pleasant?

Before attending a wine tasting, it may help you feel more confident to read
about the different types of wines.  This will give you a better idea of
what to look for as far as flavor and taste.  Next time you are invited to
a wine tasting; do not be afraid to go.   You may be missing a great
experience! 

About the Author

Jason Connors is a successful writer and wine connoisseur providing valuable tips and advice on wine cellar design, wine making, and wine basics. http://www.about-wine.net

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