Wine, truly a gastronomical goodie when savored by sophisticated senses, let’s stop for a moment to appreciate a good bottle of wine.
Ponder this, are there reasons why one bottle of Merlot will cost $5.99 (cheap table wine) and another $65.00 (first growth), or why is it that some gives you such a terrible headache the next morning! Just remember their is not much difference between wine and vinegar.

Here’s a quote I found, now this is how one should really get into a good bottle of wine.
Hermippus (an Old Greek poet) once wrote:

“But there is a wine which they call “the mellow,” and from the mouth of its jar as it is opened, there comes a fragrance of violets, a fragrance of roses, a fragrance of hyacinth. A divine perfume pervades the high-roofed house, ambrosia and nectar in one.”  As the last drops of the Margaux were being sipped, a guest savouring preciously every fragrance, said with unaffected humility: “When I drink wines such as these, I ask myself what merit I have acquired that I should be allowed to experience such beauty.”

Well that’s deep, maybe a tad dramatic, however isn’t it enriching to know that when you buy coffee, you can tell the difference between the Bold variety from Ethiopia and the Mild varieties out of the Yucatan Peninsula?
Here are a 5 step quick guide to tasting wine, remember serve White Wine chilled (around 45 Degrees) and Reds, pop the cork and allow it to “breath” at room temperature:

Look at the wine especially around the edges, look to see if the color changes throughout the body of the wine, it shouldn’t. Hold the glass against a white surface you’re looking for “true color” and clarity, there might be sediments at the bottom – perfectly Ok.
Swirl the wine in your glass, allow it to ride up and down on the sides of the glass. note the viscosity, a viscous wine is said to have ‘legs’ meaning it is likely to be more alcoholic.
Sniff the wine. be poetic describe the various minute scents, can you compare them to anything or for that matter anywhere you have experienced?
Sip, but do not swallow yet. Roll the wine around in your mouth exposing it to all of your taste buds. Pay attention to the texture and body. Then aspirate through the wine, that just a fancy way of saying; purse your lips and suck air through your mouth and up into your nose. By doing this you’re looking for the full aromas within the wine and others that may have been liberated when the wine interacted with the saliva in your mouth. “New World Wines” – from say California characteristically are defined as fruity and soft while “Old World Wines” – from France etc. are a bit more edgy, higher in acidity with a tannic bite and a earthy/mineral taste the French callsterroir.
Note the after taste when you swallow, how long did the finish last? Do you truly like the taste? Make a mental note, pay attention to the label especially the fine print and make it a favorite.