Paula Bandy

This is the final column in my Experience Wine Tasting series, and perhaps the most fun — How to properly taste wine.

Tasting wine starts with learning what you like, then, if you want to learn more, going beyond what you prefer and tasting to learn flavors. That doesn’t mean you’ll always like the wine, but you will learn nuances, and that will guide you into learning more about your personal taste preferences.

The steps are easy to remember as the Five S’s — See, Swirl, Scent, Sip, Savvy

1. See: Look at the wine. Check out the bottle to make sure it’s the varietal, brand and vintage you ordered. I have received the incorrect bottle, and once it’s open it can feel uncomfortable to send it back.

Look at it in the glass. Colors of wine change with age. Older whites tend to get a bit darker, more golden or amber. Reds can become lighter and even more translucent. However, there is also a rich brownish color that can develop with well-aged wines. Check the clarity of the wine. In general, wine should be clear, not cloudy. Exceptions can be unfiltered, natural wines.

2. Swirl: This step is not just to look cool. When pouring wine directly from bottle to glass, it’s best to give it a bit of time to breathe and “open up.” This is why certain red wines are decanted for varying times before serving. Swirling aerates (oxygenates) the wine and opens up the aromas, or bouquet, of the wine. Rule: swirl holding the stem

3. Scent: Smell the wine. Some wines are more aromatic than others. If all you can smell is wine, that’s a really good start. The scent of tropical fruit does not necessarily translate to wine notes of pineapple. But it does tease the savory anticipation and gets those juices flowing.

Note: Smelling directly down into the glass tends to present more alcohol scent, tipping the glass slightly to the side will allow more of the underlying wine notes to be sensed.

4. Sip: The long-awaited moment of lip, tongue and cheek. Most people will tell you to swirl the wine in your mouth. However, a dear friend and wine wizard taught me to “chew it” rather than swish it around. This chewing happens in the front of the mouth and further opens the wine up, so as it flows across and around the tongue, through the mouth and down, the flavors become more distinguished, the layers more discernible.

5. Savvy: According to Merriam-Webster, the word “savvy” comes from the Portuguese “sabe,” meaning “to know.” Because of the variety of wines, and the extensive nuances and tastes they exhibit, wine as an ancient and respected quaff presents a more savory experience than most drinks. It’s in the “finish,” the texture — creamy, crisp, dry, etc. — the sensations and flavors lingering after the swallow that often make it notable. A wine can lead with fruit but finish with a bitter taste, or open with red berries and linger with an underlying mineral or mocha flavor. Learning to discern what you prefer is the savvy of good wine tasting, and the wonder of it.

If you’re interested in training your palate for a variety of profiles and flavors, get a tasting wheel (or view online). A wine-tasting wheel will show you flavors often used to identify wine. It helps to use a wheel, as it’s difficult to remember all flavors available, and it’s easy to say, “Oh, I know that but … just can’t quite come up with the flavor.”

By utilizing a tasting wheel, you can more easily notice and identify particular flavors. But don’t lean on a wheel for every flavor. We are all unique and often discern flavors that others may not, so learn from yourself first, then deepen your knowledge with a tasting wheel.