Wine Tasting Guide
Learn the art and science of wine tasting. Understand how to read tasting profiles and discover the key characteristics that make each wine unique.
How to Read Our Tasting Profiles
Our tasting profile chart is a radar chart that visualizes six key characteristics of wine on a scale from 1-5. The overall shape reveals the wine's personality at a glance — the more extended the shape in any direction, the more pronounced that characteristic.
The Six Key Characteristics
Body
Body refers to the weight and fullness of the wine in your mouth — how "heavy" or "light" it feels on your palate.
Light-bodied wines feel like water, while full-bodied wines feel like cream. Body is influenced by alcohol content, grape variety, and production methods.
Examples
Light: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc
Medium: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Full: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec
Acidity
Acidity describes the tartness or crispness of a wine — the mouth-watering sensation it creates.
Acidity gives wine its refreshing quality and helps preserve it. Climate greatly affects acidity — cooler regions typically produce wines with higher acidity.
Examples
Low: Viognier, Gewürztraminer
Medium: Merlot, Chardonnay
High: Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
Tannin
Tannins create the drying, somewhat bitter sensation that's primarily found in red wines. They come from grape skins, seeds, and stems.
Tannins provide structure and aging potential. They can be felt as a drying sensation in your mouth, similar to strong black tea.
Examples
Soft: Pinot Noir, Gamay
Medium: Merlot, Zinfandel
Firm: Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo
Sweetness
Sweetness refers to the amount of residual sugar left in the wine after fermentation.
Dry wines have little to no residual sugar, while sweet wines have significant amounts. Sweetness should be balanced by acidity to avoid a cloying sensation.
Examples
Dry: Most Cabernet Sauvignon, Brut Champagne
Off-Dry: Many Rieslings, Chenin Blanc
Sweet: Ice Wine, Port, Sauternes
Alcohol
Alcohol content affects a wine's body, warmth, and overall intensity. It's measured by Alcohol by Volume (ABV).
Alcohol creates the warming sensation in wine and contributes significantly to its body and mouthfeel.
Examples
Low: German Riesling (8-10%)
Medium: Pinot Grigio (12-13%)
High: Zinfandel (14%+)
Fruitiness
Fruitiness describes the intensity of fruit flavors in a wine, from subtle to pronounced.
Different wines express different fruit characteristics — from citrus in white wines to berries in reds. Climate, grape variety, and winemaking all influence fruitiness.
Examples
Subtle: Old World Pinot Noir, Chablis
Moderate: Sangiovese, Tempranillo
Pronounced: New World Shiraz, Zinfandel
Common Wine Profiles
| Wine | Body | Acidity | Tannin | Sweetness | Fruit Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Full | Medium-High | High | Dry | Black currant, Cherry, Cedar |
| Merlot | Medium-Full | Medium | Medium | Dry | Plum, Cherry, Chocolate |
| Pinot Noir | Light-Medium | Medium-High | Low-Medium | Dry | Red cherry, Raspberry, Mushroom |
| Chardonnay | Medium-Full | Medium | None | Dry | Apple, Pear, Citrus, Vanilla |
| Sauvignon Blanc | Light-Medium | High | None | Dry | Grapefruit, Gooseberry, Grass |
| Riesling | Light | High | None | Dry to Sweet | Apple, Peach, Petrol |
How to Taste Wine
The Four Steps
Look
Observe the color, clarity, and viscosity
Hold the glass against a white background and tilt slightly. Note the color depth, brightness, and how the wine "tears" down the glass.
Smell
Note the aromas (fruit, flowers, spices, etc.)
Swirl the glass to release aromas, then take short sniffs followed by a longer inhale to identify different scent layers.
Taste
Assess flavors, body, acidity, tannins, and finish
Take a small sip and "chew" it briefly to expose it to all your taste buds. Notice how it feels in your mouth.
Conclude
Form an overall impression of the wine
Consider how all elements work together and whether the wine is balanced, complex, and enjoyable.
Key Terminology
Nose
The aroma or smell of the wine
Finish
The aftertaste that lingers after swallowing — can be short, medium, or long
Complexity
The layers and different dimensions of flavors and aromas
Balance
The harmony between different components (sweetness, acidity, tannin, alcohol)
Structure
The framework provided by tannins and acidity that gives wine its form
Mouthfeel
The physical sensations in the mouth — can be silky, velvety, rough, etc.
Find Your Style
Bold & intense
Look for high body, alcohol, and tannin ratings
Light & refreshing
Choose high acidity, lower body and alcohol
Smooth reds
Select wines with lower tannin ratings
Fruit-forward
Look for higher fruitiness ratings
Crisp whites
Choose high acidity and low sweetness
Sweet & dessert
High sweetness and fruitiness, balanced acidity
Ready to explore?
Use what you've learned to find wines that match your preferences.