(Even If You’re Just Pouring a Glass at Home)
Why Tasting with Intention Matters
Welcome to Triangle Grapevine—where wine isn’t just poured, it’s explored. We’re kicking off our very first post with something simple but transformative: learning how to taste wine with intention.
When the server asks what you’d like to drink, what’s your go-to?
- “The house red is fine.”
- “A Chardonnay, please.”
- “I like a crisp French Sauvignon Blanc—do you have something similar?”
- “A bottle of 2019 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac Grand Cru Premier Classe.”
- “Bourbon, neat.”
I may not have a palate for brown liquor, but if you answered any of the others, we should absolutely be wine friends. Because guess what? Every one of those answers is correct.
No matter the price point or varietal, there’s a perfect wine for you—you just have to find it. If your current vibe is sipping cold white wine while microwaving chicken nuggets and Kraft mac for the kids, with three loads of laundry to fold, bath time ahead, and an episode of Nobody Wants This queued up? Totally legit. Grab that 1.5L bottle of Pinot Grigio off the bottom shelf at Harris Teeter and keep truckin’, mama. You do you.
But when you get the rare chance for a girls’ night out or an elusive date night, try something new. Ask the server for a recommendation. Taste with intention. Hint: any wine served by the glass at a restaurant, they will happily let you taste before committing to a glass.
What does that mean—“taste with intention”?
Think of it like this: It’s the difference between half-hearing your middle child’s endless story while chauffeuring everyone around and scrambling to figure out dinner—versus that quiet moment later, when you’re snuggled up at bedtime, and she says something so insightful it stops you in your tracks. That’s intentional listening. And intentional tasting can feel just as eye-opening. It’s called the 5 S’s of wine tasting.
Here’s how to taste wine with intention:
Step 1: Swirl
Hold the stem of the glass between your fingers and gently swirl it, allowing the wine to move around the bowl of the glass. Alternatively, place the glass on a flat surface and, using your fingers on the base, move it in small circles to create the same swirling motion.
Step 2: Sight
Hold your glass against a white napkin or background. What color is the wine? A pale straw yellow? Deep gold? Garnet or ruby red? Is it clear or cloudy? Can you read the menu through it? Is it thick or thin (aka, how viscous is it)? These clues tell you a lot about the wine’s body (how it feels in your mouth) and age.
Step 3: Sniff
Get your nose in there! Really—place it just inside the rim and take a slow, steady inhale. What do you smell? Try a couple more sniffs, pausing between.
With whites, you might catch tropical fruit, citrus, or herbs like marjoram or fennel. Reds may offer red or black fruit, spice (think pepper or cinnamon), or earthy notes—like potting soil or crushed gravel. And hey, if it just smells like wine, that’s okay too.
Try this: sniff near the rim where you’d sip, then again from the top edge (across from where you would sip).. Notice any difference?
Step 4: Sip
Take a sip, but don’t swallow right away. Let it roll over your tongue and around your mouth. Every part of your palate picks up different things.
If you can manage a little air-sucking without dribbling, go for it! You might get new flavors. Is it bright and acidic? Do the tannins (that fuzzy mouthfeel from red wine grape skins) make your tongue tingle? Does it feel balanced—meaning the acidity, structure, and flavor all work together?
Try a bite of cheese or food, then sip again. Notice how the wine changes?
Step 5: Savor
Think about how the look, smell, and taste come together. Talk about it with your friends—what did they notice? Did someone mention a flavor you hadn’t picked up on at first, but now can’t un-taste? I like to jot down quick notes: Do I like it? (If not—spit it out. Life is too short for bad wine.) What flavors or aromas did I get? What food would I pair it with?
Once you’ve tried this process, you’ll start picking up on the little nuances that make wine so fun to explore. But don’t worry—you don’t need to do this every time you open a bottle. Sometimes, wine is just about pouring a glass, catching up with friends, and letting it flow. There’s a time and place for all of it.
Cheers!