Wine Tasting 101 - Smelling

Right, so you've look at that wine & you've swirled it.

Now, one step closer to actually tasting the wine, it's time to smell the wine. What actually happens in this moment, is that you are subconsciously preparing your brain for what you're about to taste. It's amazing just what an important step this actually is, as the sense of smell really has a profound effect on the way in which your brain processes flavours. 

Again, most people have their own preference when smelling wine. Mine is to hold my nose closer to the point of the wine glass furthest from you when on the table. Then move your nose side to side & breathe in deeply whilst keeping your mouth slightly open as to breathe out through your mouth.

Now the interesting part is what you end up smelling. Such an interesting conversation starter most of the time. Because everyone will probably pick up something very different from the each other. So the brain will only pick up scents that you have already smelled before, or something that you smell often & that are in your memory. So whilst smelling, really think about what you are smelling, it could be anything.

On a white wine, you may pick up aromas of fresh lemon, pineapples, guavas, asparagus or even the smell of the beach. It is all dependent on what your brain picks up on & how it connects it to a scent.

Same thing with red wines, you'll probably get prunes, cherries, strawberries, peppers & even tobacco. So let your mind run wild when you're smelling, you may just surprise yourself with what you pick up. I mean, I've picked up on roasted coconut covered marshmallows in a red wine, so anything is possible.

The other important thing about smelling your wine, is that it will also give you an indication if something else is wrong with the wine. For example, the wine may be 'corked', which is not pleasant at all. So when you smell anything that reminds you of wet newspaper, moldy wet spaces or even a wet dog, there is a chance that the bottle is corked. In this instance, always ask those drinking with you, if they are experiencing the same aromas. (Just a heads up, only a bottle that has been sealed with a cork, can be corked. So a bottle with a screw cap has zero chance of being spoiled.)

Happy 'smelling'. 

#WineRoutingWithLloyd