Tasting
Learn the sommelier's deductive method: appearance, aroma wheel, balance and blind tasting.
Appearance: reading the colour
Appearance gives first clues to age, concentration and sometimes grape variety.
Wine type
Stage of development
Legs & viscosity (Marangoni effect)
Legs mainly reflect alcohol content (Marangoni effect); sweet wines also look more viscous.
Simulated alcohol content:13.5% vol.
11.0% (thin legs)15.5% (thick legs)
Purple with violet tints
The rim
Narrow rim with bluish-purple tints.
Tilt your glass at 45° over a white background. A broad, watery rim often comes with age, but can also signal a light, less concentrated wine.
How the colour evolves
Rich in free anthocyanins not yet bound to tannins: a sign of youth.
Rough guide only: colour depends as much on grape, skin thickness and winemaking as on age; a young Nebbiolo can already look garnet.
Sommelier's tip
Contrary to popular belief, legs say nothing about quality: they reflect the alcohol and sugar content.
Module 1 of 4