Scientists Tell Us How to Be Better Wine Tasters

By Sarah White
Aug 21, 2019 12:58 PMDec 23, 2019 12:07 AM
Wine Tasting - Shutterstock
The world of wine is complex. But there are a few simple things you can do to up your skills. (Credit: nd3000/Shutterstock)

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Only 256 people in the world can call themselves Master Sommeliers: experts at tasting, describing and selling wine. They’re so rare because each sip of wine is a perceptual puzzle: Over 25 different taste and smell variables (sweetness, acidity, texture, finish, etc.) define each wine.

But you don’t have to be a super-taster or super-smeller to become a wine expert (although if you are, it wouldn’t hurt). With just a little bit of science in your toolkit, you can train both your senses and thoughts to be a little more discerning — and start to approach that expert level.

The Triangle Test

The best way to start on your journey toward wine wisdom is to try what’s called the “triangle test.” It’s used frequently in wine research.

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