Look. Swirl. Smell. And Sip. But why?
Look: To check the color, opacity and viscosity (or as the enthusiasts call it, wine legs). You don't really need to spend more than five seconds on this step.
Swirl: Some wines are too dry for the consumer's taste due to the tannic acid so swirling the glass draws oxygen from the air into the wine.
Smell: Wine lovers always say it is customary to smell your drink prior to the first sip as part of the tasting experience. This is to discover the character of the wine. You can identify what kind of flavors and content might be in there. For example, you can detect the primary aromas like fruit, herb or flower notes as well as the secondary aromas that come from fermentation and yeast.
Sip: Two elements make up taste: flavor such as lemon, raspberry or coconut and structure such as the level of sweetness, body, alcohol, acidity, tannin and much more.
Now in case somebody asks you for your opinion, do not panic. You can draw a conclusion by answering a few simple questions like, did the wine taste balanced or out of balance? Was this wine unique or unmemorable? Were there any characteristics that made an impression on you? Did you like its taste or not?
Region matters
Wines are often named after or famously known for the region they come from and there is a very good reason for that. Because of different climates, seasons, rainfall, etc the taste of the grapes vary from region to region. Today, wine is produced all over the world, from Australia to Scandinavia, Brazil to South Africa, and Argentina to Wisconsin. However, both tradition and economics have also been known to drive the ability to grow the crops sustainably within a given climate too. So it's best to know where the wine was made. Italy, France and Spain are known to produce some of the best wines in the world.
Is more expensive wine better?
The reason wines are more expensive starts from the ground up -- literally. Regions that are already established and those that have already proven track records are more expensive. There are other reasons why some wines are more expensive than others. These have to do with the way the wine is made, the grapes that are used. But if you don't care for these things, if you couldn't care less of the sort of oak that was used, then it's not better wine to you is it? There is no point in spending an extra thousand rupees per bottle when you can't taste anything different. But it is an extra thousand rupees more for a reason to someone and thus it is better for them. That's what you must understand. So no, not all expensive wines are the best. It depends on your taste and preference too.
Food pairing
Pairing wine and food can get tricky. If you wish to get technical while pairing wine with food, the basic rule is to not let one overpower the other. Since food can affect your taste buds, which consequently changes the way a wine may taste, it's important to strike a balance. So, in general, pair light-bodied wines with lighter foods and full-bodied wines with richer options. Everybody's heard that red wine goes with meat whereas white is for fish and poultry. Still that's not exactly a requirement. It is more of a helpful hint.
Pairing wine and food is a subjective topic. So perhaps the only absolute "rule" you should follow is to trust your palate. Drink what you like and enjoy.
How long does a wine stay good after opening?
90% of wine is meant to be drunk in the year it's released. This is a fact. Some wines do, however, improve with age. Quite simply: It depends. Some wines can still smell and taste great after a considerable amount of time, while others will seem decidedly duller and less interesting after even a day. Every wine has its own relationship to oxygen so to a certain point while oxygen helps a wine show off its flavors, extended exposure to oxygen can also deteriorate the wine. It all depends on the grapes that were used, the area it came from as well as how it was made.
It is recommended that you trust your palate in this regard as well. If you taste a wine that's been open for a day or two already, and it tastes good to you, then go for it! The same rule applies if it has been open for a week or so too.
How to hold a wineglass?
You should always hold the glass by the stem, no matter what the shape or size of the glass or the type of wine. Pinch the stem between your index finger and your thumb. If holding the glass by the stem feels unwieldy, check the portion: A wineglass should be only a quarter to a third full.
The most common mistake is holding a wineglass by the bowl. When you do this with a champagne flute or a wineglass, your body heat warms the drink inside which is not what you want since white wine and champagne both taste best when it's chilled. Now, holding your glass of red wine by the bowl may not affect its taste, but this way you won't be able to check the color and the clarity of the wine.
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