Wine Tasting

Wine tasting is the art of slowing down and really paying attention to a glass of wine: how it looks, how it smells, how it tastes and how it feels in your mouth. Tasting a few wines side by side makes the differences easy to spot. It's how you work out what you actually like, so you can order with confidence next time.

Red wine is made with the grape skins left in while it ferments, which gives it colour, flavour and tannin. Styles run from light and fruity to rich and heavy.

White wine is usually made from juice without the skins, so it tends to be fresher and lighter. It can be crisp and zesty or rounder and creamier, especially if it's been aged in oak.

Rosé gets its pink colour from a short time in contact with red grape skins. Sparkling wine has bubbles, often from a second fermentation in the bottle. Orange wine is made from white grapes fermented with their skins, for a deeper colour and a bit of grip. Fortified wines such as port and sherry have extra spirit added, which makes them stronger.

Try the five S's. See: tilt the glass and look at the colour. Swirl: give it a spin to release the aromas. Sniff: put your nose right in, because most of what we call flavour is really smell. Sip: take a small mouthful and let it cover your whole tongue. Savour: notice how long the taste lingers after you swallow, which wine people call the finish.

As you sip, think about sweetness, acidity (that mouth-watering zing), tannin (the dry, grippy feeling a strong cup of tea can also give you) and body (how light or heavy it feels). Then look for fruit, spice, flowers or earthy notes. There are no wrong answers. If it reminds you of your nan's kitchen, say so.

Your Activity Leader guides you through a handpicked selection of wines, sharing the story behind each one along with tips for tasting like a pro. You'll try each wine in turn, compare notes with the people around you and pick up the lingo as you go. Water and spittoons are part of any proper tasting, so there's no pressure to finish every glass.

Perfect. You don't need a fancy palate or a cellar full of vintage bottles, just curiosity and a glass. A lot of wine talk sounds intimidating, but once you know a handful of words, it all starts to click. The best bit is finding the grapes and styles you love, so you can stop picking the second cheapest bottle on the menu.

You might also like Beer Tasting, Cocktail Mixology and Cider Making.

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