Now we all love exploring a good drop, and sharing a glass with mates. But how do you go about deciding what makes a good wine? If you’re not sure what to look for, it can be an intimidating process. So here are just a few of my tips and techniques.

Soon enough you’ll be a splendid sommelier and appreciate wine on a whole new level.

1. Look

The first step, before you even have a taste, is to visually inspect the wine. Hold the glass up to the light and observe the colour and clarity. The colour will give you clues about the grape variety and the age of the wine. Like a young red wine will have a vibrant, purple colour, while an older wine may have a more of a garnet hue. The clarity can also indicate its quality, as a hazy or cloudy wine may be a sign of a flawed or poorly made wine.

2. Smell

The second step is to smell the wine. Swirl the wine in the glass (yes, like that) to release its aromas, then you take a deep sniff. The aroma of a wine can tell you a lot about its characteristics, such as the grape variety, the winemaking process, and the region it comes from. Look for fruit, floral, or herbal aromas, as well as more complex notes such as oak, spice, or earthiness.

3. Taste

Now you can finally taste the wine. Take a small sip and let it roll around your mouth. Pay attention to the flavours and textures of the wine. Is it fruity, acidic, or tannic? Does it have a smooth, velvety texture, or a more astringent and drying mouthfeel? Try to identify the different flavours and textures of the wine, and think carefully about how they work together to create a harmonious and balanced wine. This step may take a few tries to get right.

4. Evaluate

Fourth and finally is to evaluate the wine as a whole. Think about how the different elements of the wine – the colour, aroma, flavour, and texture – come together to create a complete wine experience. Consider the wine’s overall balance, complexity, and length. Does it have a long, satisfying finish, or does it leave a sour or bitter aftertaste?

While these are the basic building blocks of wine tasting, there are many other factors that can affect your experience, such as the temperature of the wine, the glassware you use, and even your own preferences and mood. To truly perfect your technique, I’d recommend you experiment with different wines and tasting technique, and don’t be afraid to trust your instincts.

So, with four simple steps, you can become more confident and knowledgeable in your evaluation of a good vintage . Hopefully helping you find a new level of appreciation for fine wines.

And of course, if you need to practice your technique, there is a nice range of Italian wines available at Euroconcepts Sydney and together we can work on our tasting technique until we’re sure it is perfect.