Tasting is not drinking. Although wine is made to drink and enjoy, there are also times when it has to be judged and assessed. Mastering the art of tasting is essential in order to get the most out of your wine drinking. more...

Examining a wine will tell you a number of things, even before you smell or taste it. Hold the glass, ideally against a white background, and take a look. Colour depends on a wine's age, its sweetness, its degree of oakiness and, of course, the grape variety from which it's made. more...

Smell is absolutely crucial to taste. Your nose can tell you a great deal about a wine before you even taste it so put your nose well into the glass and sniff. Does the wine have little aroma or a powerful one? What can you smell - fruits and what kind, herbs, minerals, spice, wet dog? more...

Take a mouthful. Swish it around your mouth and between your teeth. Does the wine just have a simple flavour or does it have different flavours that change in your mouth? Is the texture light like water or does it have roundness and body? Does the wine feel sensuous, or is it harsh? more...

Always spit out the wine you taste - any taster who didn't would become incapable after half an hour. You should spit the wine firmly and accurately in a single jet through pursed lips. Practising at home beforehand in front of a mirror can often help. more...

If you are tasting a lot of wines, it can help to take notes. Jot down your impressions as you taste - the look, the aroma, the taste and, then, an overall impression. Is wine simple and easy drinking? Is it complex with different layers of flavour? Is it ready to drink? Does it offer good value? more...

Most wine faults come from poor winemaking or from faulty materials, especially corks. Faults vary in intensity - some lessening the potential pleasure from a bottle, others making it undrinkable. Tasters can be sensitive to corked wines, while others notice too much sulphur. more...