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WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO TASTE WINE PROPERLY?

When it comes to drinking wine, there a few things that can make all the difference.

Australian wine-connoisseur Caitlyn Rees offers how to taste wines like an expert

Step 1: See

Before you even down that first sip, you first need to take a look at the wine in your glass.

'See refers to the appearance of the wine. This is where you can check the clarity, intensity and colour.

'If the wine is hazy it could be faulty but more likely unfiltered.'

Step 2: Swirl

You've probably seen wine drinkers swirl the wine in their glass before taking a sip.

The reason is to allowed the wine to 'open up' and reveal the maximum amount of aroma, flavour and intensity.

'Swirling releases the aroma particles that make the next step, smell, more helpful.'

Step 3: Smell

Smelling wine serves two purposes. It helps you detect scents and flavours as well as providing a way to check for faults.

Step 4: Sip and savour

Once you've taken in the full aroma of the wine, now it's time to sip.

Step 5: Spit or swallow

Unless the wine you are tasting has gone bad, the final step in the process of wine tasting is to swallow.

The trick though isn't to gulp it down.

It's more to let it drift down over the back of your tongue to allow your taste buds to pick up the intensity of the flavour. 

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