SIP LIKE A SOMMELIER

"I just like red" won't cut it anymore

- WORDS YASHITA DAMANI

Let's be honest, wine can be intimidating. One minute you're trying to look sophisticated while peering into your glass, and the next, you're nervously agreeing with someone who says the Chardonnay smells like "wet stone and sun-drenched hay bales." What? If you've ever swirled your wine like you're conducting a science experiment or sniffed a Merlot so hard your contact lens twitched-congratulations, you're not alone. But here's the twist: wine doesn't have to be pretentious. In fact, with five simple steps, you can go from clueless to clink-worthy. This is your crash course in tasting like a sommelier: minus the snobbery, with a splash of humour, and a swirl of science.

QUICK TIPS BEFORE WE BEGIN:

• Always hold the glass by the stem to avoid warming the wine. (Someone once told me the glass would take on my body temperature.)

• Use a white background when evaluating colour.

• Don't wear perfume, it competes with the wine's bouquet.

• No need to gulp or down your drink; small sips reveal more.

• Wine tastes better in good glassware; tulip-shaped glasses are ideal.

You'll learn how to look, swirl, sniff, sip, and savour like a pro, while also picking up fun facts (like why holding the stem is a power move) and decoding terms like “tannins” without googling mid-dinner.

Look

LET THE WINE TALK BACK