With the Finger Lakes so nearby you’re bound to head over to one of the region’s three wine trails (Keuka Lake Wine Trail, Seneca Lake Wine Trail, or Cayuga Lake Wine Trail), since the region offers over 100 wineries. But if you’re like a lot of people and fear there may be some “hidden etiquette” to wine tasting we provide the following Seven S’s of Wine Tasting that will serve you well in any setting:

  1. See the wine and notice its color, its clarity, and its intensity.
  2. Swirl the glass slowly to release the aromas that lie dormant.
  3. Smell the wine and discover the qualities and aromas that can be classified in such terms as “spicy, nutty, fruity, floral,” or anything else you can use to describe what you sense. Rest assured, there is never a wrong perception since each person perceives different qualities.
  4. Sip the wine by taking a small amount in your mouth along with a small bit of air on top of the liquid, almost like slurping the wine in. This combined action serves to aerate the wine further releasing more aromas onto your palate.
  5. Savor the wine. Swish it around your mouth making certain it hits every area.
  6. Spit/Swallow the wine. It is perfectly acceptable to utilize the spit buckets that are always (or should always be) provided; especially if you will be driving from winery to winery.
  7. Score the wine with whatever personal scoring system you have created, and make any notes that will help you remember the experience when reflecting back on it.

So, there you have it. That doesn’t sound too intimidating, does it? Just remember the experience is about senses and one sense to not neglect is your sense of fun!