Wine Appreciation: Swirl, Sniff and Sip

I remember the first time I was given the challenge of swirling wine in a glass, my husband said, "We cannot go to the International Pinot Noir Conference if you don't know how to swirl wine in a glass." That was in 2006, nearly 20 years ago! I confess it took me awhile to master the art of swirling wine in the glass, but that is the first requisite for wine enjoyment.
In writing this blog, I checked the Internet and there are 5Ss to wine tasting and not the 3 that I am familiar with. The other 2Ss bookend the ones that I am familiar with so it goes: See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip and Savor. I agree. We do give the wine we are drinking a "see". We check the color of the wine regardless whether it is a red or a white wine, especially if it is an aged wine. The color of a wine can indicate many things even before the swirl. Swirling the wine releases the volatile components in a wine that contributes to the aroma that one perceives. After the appropriate swirl, the sniff, can reveal many different attributes of the wine. Then, the sip, how does the wine taste on the palate? If the wine lives up to expectations, the next step is to savor and enjoy!
Recently, we had a real life experience of another component to wine appreciation that may go neglected. It is just as important in wine tasting to serve the wine in the appropriate glass.

My husband and I did this test recently where we put the same wine in a conical glass and then a glass with a bowl. Even before the swirl, the conical glass made the wine mute, the glass with a bowl was already releasing some aromatics. It is much easier to swirl in a glass with a bowl than it is to swirl in a conical glass. After swirling, the aroma compounds in the wine were much more apparent in the glass with the bowl.
Lastly, regardless whether it is a white or a red wine, a well made wine will evolve throughout the drinking experience. If it is a white wine taken out from being chilled, a white wine will reach its sweet spot in temperature and be just delightful! So see, swirl, sniff, sip and savor!