Since I started on this wine journey, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring a vast array of wines, each with its own unique flavor profile. Today, I invite you to join me as we delve into the art of writing tasting notes and why it’s a valuable skill for any wine lover to develop.

Why Keep Tasting Notes?

Before we dive into the specifics of how to write a tasting note, let’s first discuss why it’s important to keep track of your wine tasting experiences. Tasting notes serve as a personal record of your encounters with different wines, allowing you to track your preferences and evolving palate over time. They provide a roadmap of your wine journey, helping you to remember memorable bottles, identify patterns in flavor profiles, and make more informed decisions when selecting wines in the future.

How to Write a Tasting Note: A Template

Now that we understand the importance of tasting notes, let’s explore a simple template that you can use to capture your impressions of different wines:

1. Appearance: Begin by observing the wine’s color, clarity, and intensity. Note whether it is pale or deep, clear or hazy, and any variations in hue from the rim to the core.
2. Aroma: Take a moment to swirl the wine gently in your glass and inhale deeply. Identify the primary aromas, such as fruit, floral, herbal, or earthy notes. Pay attention to the intensity of the aromas and any secondary or tertiary characteristics that emerge with prolonged sniffing.
3. Palate: Now it’s time to taste! Take a small sip of the wine and let it coat your palate. Note the flavors that come through, including fruit, spice, oak, and any other discernible elements. Consider the wine’s acidity, tannins, body, and alcohol content, as well as its overall balance and length on the finish.
4. Conclusion: Summarize your overall impressions of the wine, including its quality, complexity, and potential for aging. Reflect on how it compares to other wines you’ve tasted and whether it aligns with your personal preferences.

Join the Tasting Journey

Wine Spencer Explore subscribers get access to all our wine tasting notes. I hope you’ll follow along and use these tasting notes as inspiration for your own wine exploration. Not yet, a subscriber, join here.