How to Taste Red Wine

Learning to appreciate wine is like everything else - the more you practice, the better you get. If you're considering taking a formal wine appreciation course, why not get started on a little tasting program of your own? It's easy, economical and enlightening. Discover and create your own tastes - simply by focusing on a few key red wines.

Instructions

• Step 1

KNOW THE TERM, "VARIETAL". This refers to wine made from a single, specific grape variety: like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, or Pinot Noir grapes. In learning to taste and appreciate wines, it's best to stick with single varietal wines as opposed to "blends" - those made with one or more varietals.

• Step 2

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO SIP. You don't want your palate to get used to inferior stuff. Personal taste varies, but be wary of the least expensive wines. Grapes have a lot of quality variation, and grape quality affects wine quality. Fine wine begins with the best fruit, and top grapes can influence the wine cost. Remember - your time investment, plus educating your palate correctly the first time, are worth a lot.

• Step 3

DO A LITTLE RESEARCH TO HELP YOU PICK WINES. Unfortunately, some people pick wine by labels, or price. But you can easily find recommendations for fine wines in all price ranges. The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for example, sorts their winners according to price range. See reference below, for the current list of winners.

• Step 4

START WITH ONE VARIETAL. Pick a versatile varietal - for example, a Merlot or Sangiovese - that pairs well with many different foods and appetizers. Stick with it for a few weeks. Every time you pour a glass - look at it, smell it, swirl it, really taste it as you sip. See where it lands on your tongue. How does it taste with pasta tonight, and beef tomorrow? Whenever you enjoy a glass of wine at home or in a restaurant, make sure you have this same varietal. Your palate is adjusting to the unique character of this grape's wine.

• Step 5

INTRODUCE A SECOND VARIETAL. When you're ready - change from Merlot to a Pinot Noir, for example. Again, find one whose taste you enjoy, and allow your palate to adapt to this wine's character with a variety of foods. For the next few weeks, whenever you enjoy a glass of wine, let it be a Pinot.

• Step 6

SMALL BLIND TASTE TEST. After several weeks of familiarizing your palate with two independent varietals, pick a time when you haven't had wine for a day or two. Have someone pour the wines into separate marked glasses. Sip - and be proud that you can easily identify them; your palate has found its own definition, through practice and pairing.

• Step 7

ADD A THIRD VARIETAL. Some people add a Cabernet Sauvignon at this point. A good Cab has a very distinctive personality that screams "I am CAB!" It all begins with the grapes - Cab grapes have a high skin to flesh ratio - influencing the tannin balance and flavors more than some other varietals. Cabs may require more taste bud adaptation, and are often an "acquired taste." So a note of caution - if it doesn't seem right, just go with a Syrah or a Zinfandel for the third wine.

• Step 8

ADD VARIETALS AND LOOK FOR NUANCES. Wine tasting and wine appreciation are life skills that get better with practice. As you add varietals, keep your early ones in your taste mix. Also, periodically expand your blind taste tests. With continued, focused tasting and practice, you'll identify more varietals, and also wine nuances - for example, vintage, winemaker approach, and type of barrel used for aging.