Before tasting a wine, use your hand to feel whether it’s at the right temperature. Also, check whether the surface is shiny, which shows that the wine is in good condition. The color can also provide information on the vine variety used, on the age of the wine and on its quality. To determine the quality, raise the glass up high and hold it against a white background to examine the intensity of the color.

Next, sniff the “aroma” (the scent of the grapes) of the wine and its “bouquet” (the scent that develops as the wine refines and ages).
Most importantly, keep the glass very still and sniff the wine briefly a number of times, then roll the glass around gently to free the scents of the wine. Finally, drink a sip and let it spread out everywhere in your mouth, so that it hits all the taste buds on your tongue. The more intense the flavor (persistence), the better the quality and body.

back