Then comes the smell as we lift the glass to our lips. Finally, the taste of the wine and the feel of its body or weight on our palates. For assessment purposes we are really looking at sight , smell and taste , in that order. For a complete glossary of wine terms, click here The Aroma Wheel helps wine lovers identify and describe a whole range of smells found in wines, both good and bad. Click here to view a larger version of the wheel.
Sight Hold the glass up to the light.
What we are looking for is clarity and colour. All wines should be bright and clean, free of particles or sediment. Mark down hazy or cloudy wines. White wines have a range of colours from water white to deep golden depending on sugar content and maturity. Red wines range from dense purple to pale cherry depending on grape variety and age.