The Eight S's of Wine Tasting

 The best advice I can give about wine tasting is to SLOW DOWN.  Savor the experience.  This is a time to really explore your wines.

Let's start with "S" #1: Setting.  Whether your at home or out at a winery, the setting helps set the mood of your tastings.  Remember your mood and mind are very important to your tasting experience.

Start your tasting by looking at the color and texture of the wine.  That's "S" #2: Sight.  Admire the color by looking thru the wine with a white background.

Next you want to give some air to the wine. ( Assuming we're tasting a younger wine) This is "S" #3: Swirl.  The idea is a thin layer of wine up the side of the glass.  Swirl not Shake!

Now let's get our noses inside the bowl of the wine glass and enjoy the aromas that our swirling created.  Slow down.  Just relax and enjoy.  This is "S" #4: Smell

Time to take a Sip; "S" #5.   Don't drink the wine...let it sit on your tongue.  You can even Slosh it around; "S" #6.

Finally, you can opt to Swallow; "S" #7.  But don't rush on to the next taste.  Apply "S" #8 and Savor your taste.  You may get more "information" after you have swallowed the wine.