This is for all those who want to taste wine like a pro, develop their palate, and become refined experts.

After having had the pleasure of meeting up with Gaston Hochar in his winery Chateau Musar, we learned many tips on how to taste and evaluate a glass of wine like a specialist.

Learning how to do the latter can greatly enhance one’s appreciation and understanding of the beverage. Tasting wine is not just about identifying the flavors, but also about understanding the wine’s structure, balance, and overall quality. This knowledge can help you identify wines that you enjoy and make better-informed wine purchasing decisions.

It can also make social situations, such as dining at a restaurant, more enjoyable as you will be able to confidently order and appreciate the wines being served.

For those who work in the wine industry, understanding how to taste wine and evaluate it like an expert is essential for success. This knowledge can be used to create, market, and sell wine. It can also be used to provide professional recommendations, pairing suggestions, and wine education to others. Overall, mastering how to taste wine correctly is a necessary skill for anyone who wants to fully appreciate and understand its beauty along with its complexities.

Mr Hochar, owner and General Manager of Chateau Musar, walked us through the proper steps of tasting wine. According to him, having the ability to do it like a pro requires both knowledge and technique; things he has accumulated with years of experience. Here is the walk through to follow:

To start off, you must examine the wine’s appearance, noting the color and clarity. The color can indicate the wine’s age and variety, while the clarity can indicate if it has been filtered or if it has any sediment.

Firstly, look down into the glass to be able to view the wine’s entire color. Then, tilt your glass so that the wine rolls towards the rim providing you with more clues regarding its weight and age.

Next, you should give the wine a swirl (in a swift motion) to aerate it and release its aromas. Take a moment to take in the wine’s nose, or its bouquet, noting any primary and secondary aromas such as fruit, floral, and earthy scents.

Once you have a good sense of the wine’s aroma, take a sip and let it linger in your mouth to fully experience the taste, texture, and finish. By letting the wine cover all parts of your mouth, prior to swallowing it, you avoid missing any key element. Here, you should be paying attention to the wine’s acidity, tannins, and alcohol level, as well as any flavors or impressions you may have. The trick while you finally give it a taste is to inhale while doing so, in order to have a better encounter and understanding of the beverage in question.

Overall, the key to tasting wine like an expert is to approach it with an open mind, take your time, and use your senses to fully appreciate the complexity of the wine.

Following these steps will enable you to discern what you like, dislike, or appreciate in your wine. Taking your time to fully understand and recognize the components of each wine will help you articulate your feelings towards a certain blend and help you ultimately find your preferred type of wine.

Make sure to check out our Instagram for the full video of Mr Hochar demonstrating the step by step on how to do it!