Drinking wine is more than simply consuming a beverage; it’s an entire experience. Although there are thousands of different types of wines, there are a few key elements to include in the wine experience that will make all of your wine drinking much more enjoyable. If you learn about the different components of wine – such as body, finish, and flavor intensity – you’ll be able to find the perfect wine for you.

Get a recommendation. If you’re a new wine drinker, go to a store that specializes in wine to ask for help in selecting the wine that is right for you. If there isn’t a specialty wine store near you, don’t panic. Most liquor and grocery stores have a large variety of wine, so you should have no problem finding the right wine for you.

• Explain to the wine expert or store employee what flavors you enjoy so that they can help you choose the best wine.
• If you’re planning to have wine with food, tell them what food that will be on the menu so that they can help you pick the right wine.

Choose a wine. Knowing what qualities you’re looking for in a wine is very important, as there are numerous types of wine. Do you want a full-bodied or light-bodied wine? Body equates to how heavy the wine actually feels in your mouth. Or do you prefer a dry or sweet wine? In wine-speak, dry is the opposite of sweet. Do you want a crisp or soft wine? A wine with refreshing acidity is crisp, whereas a wine that feels smoother is considered soft.

• The most popular red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.
• Try a white wine. Popular white wines include Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Pour 1-2 ounces of wine into your glass to taste it before deciding on a full glass. It’s common to try a few sips of wine before committing to a glass. Proper wine tasting is a great way to determine whether or not you like the overall flavor of the wine.

Experience the aroma. Swirl the wine in your glass to expose it to a larger surface area. This increases wine’s contact with air and intensifies its aroma. Swirl your wine by holding the glass by the base or by the stem. Smell your wine as you swirl it to take in the aromas. Common aromas include different fruits, spices, herbs and flowers.

• Be sure to smell the wine several times, swirling before each smell. A complex wine will offer multiples scents, and taking in each scent will intensify the wines flavor.
• The overall taste of a wine is a combination of smells and flavors, so it’s important that you don’t skip the smelling stage.

Taste the wine. Taste your wine in small sips. Roll the wine across your taste buds by lightly swishing it around your mouth. Hold the wine in your mouth for 5-10 seconds before swallowing to really absorb the flavor. After swallowing, notice the aftertaste, or finish. High quality wines tend to have a more defined the finish. A good finish will linger on your palate for quite some time.

Here you are! 1 or 2 glasses is enough to feel the taste and to be on a good mood.