Common wine-tasting mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Whether you're a curious amateur or an occasional wine drinker, it's easy to make a few mistakes that can spoil the experience of tasting a fine wine... without even realizing it! But don't panic: with a few simple tips, you can immediately enjoy your bottles to the full. Here are 5 common mistakes (even among connoisseurs) - and how to avoid them so you can enjoy your wine like a pro.

Drinking wine at the wrong temperature

This is mistake number 1, and the most common! A wine that's too warm seems heavy and alcoholic, while one that's too cold loses its aromas.

To remember:

• Dry white / rosé: 8 to 10°C (not iced!)
• Aromatic / sweet whites: 10 to 12°C
• Light reds (IGP Vaucluse type): 12-14°C
• Full-bodied reds (Beaumes-de-Venise type): 16-18°C
• Muscat doux: around 10°C

Tip: Take a red wine out of the fridge 30 minutes before serving, or chill a slightly warm red wine for 15 minutes.

Choosing the wrong glass

A glass that is too small or too closed prevents the wine from expressing itself. Ideally, use :

• A stemmed glass, tulip-shaped or balloon-shaped
• Wide at the base, narrow at the top (to concentrate aromas).
• Always clean, with no closet odor or dishwashing liquid

Tip: Avoid thick, colored or too-small glasses (like a water glass or flute for red wine!).

Filling the glass to the rim

We've all seen this gesture at family dinners: the glass half-full or more. A bad idea! A glass of wine should be no more than 1/3 full to :

1. be able to swirl the wine without spilling it

2. Allow the oxygen to act to release the aromas

It's better to fill the glass a little and refill it often, especially for powerful reds or young wines.

Go too fast

Many people taste... and then swallow. What a pity! Tasting means taking a moment's attention, just as you would with a good meal. Classic mistakes:

• Not looking at the wine's color
• Not smelling the wine before tasting it
• Drinking it all at once without thinking

The right order:

• Observe color and intensity
• Smell (nose 1 then nose 2 after aeration)
• Taste: take a small sip, roll it around in the mouth
• Analyze: acidity, tannins, length, retro-olfaction aromas

You don't need to be an oenologist to do this - just take the time!

Tasting in the wrong context

Light, surrounding odors, room temperature, even your mood... everything can influence a tasting. Avoid the following:

• Tasting after brushing your teeth
• Tasting a wine in the middle of a 35°C heat wave
• Smells of cooking, perfume or smoke around you

Create neutral conditions if possible: natural light, no strong odors, clean glass, and above all... an open mind.

See you soon at Domaine des Garances!