Tasting sheet download

A wine tasting is a ritual of examining a wine’s color, aroma and taste. It can be informal among friends or formal with experts. Here are steps and tips for a successful tasting:

Preparation

Choose a selection of wines to taste – from a region, vintage or grape variety.

Make sure wines are at the right temperature: reds at 16–18°C and whites at 8–10°C.

Use suitable glasses. A good wine glass has a wider bowl and narrower rim to focus aromas.

Setting

A quiet room without strong smells is ideal. Candles, perfume or food can interfere.
Bright lighting or a white tablecloth helps you judge color.

The tasting

Look: view the wine against a white background. Note clarity and color.

Swirl: swirl the wine to release aromas and observe the “legs”.

Smell: take a deep breath and try to identify aromas.

Taste: take a sip and let it cover the palate. Note sweetness, acidity, tannins and finish.

Scoring

Many people use scores or notes. You can do this directly in DWINER or with a simple tasting sheet.

Snacks

Provide neutral snacks like bread or crackers to cleanse the palate.

Spit or swallow

At professional tastings people often spit. In informal settings you can of course swallow.

Discussion

One joy of tasting is discussing impressions – everyone perceives flavor differently.