Ways of Sipping/Tasting Wine

[quijote]

I realize that, instinctively, the best way for people to taste and sip wine is the way that they most enjoy.... But in an "intro to wine" book I have, it is written that the "professional" way to taste wine is to sip a little, then open the lips a little to take in some air (creating a sound like sucking on a straw at the bottom of a glass).

I've tried this technique, and I've found that taking in air helps to unleash many flavors in wine, but I wonder.... is this really a standard, professional approach? Are there other techniques? If so, with what benefit? How might I profitably try sipping/tasting wine in public without sounding too slurpy?

John

[Kcwhippet]

All you're really doing is mixing oxygen with the wine and letting the aromatics flow around your mouth and into your sinuses and flavor components flow to all parts of your mouth. That way all the taste buds can experience the wine and your olfactory nerves get the full effect of all the aromatics. You can do it any way you want to, it's just that the method you describe is about the best way to get all the effect. I do it and so does just about everyone I know who's really serious about wine. It's not strictly a professional way to taste wine, it's the most efficient. Another thing we all do at a tasting is to spit out the wine. At a major tasting you can get quite inebriated before you realize it if you don't spit.

[wondersofwine]

In addition to taking in some air, I try to roll the wine around my mouth, coating different surfaces to get the full impact.

[ShortWiner]

Soon you'll be doing this little slurping thing without even realizing it. It can be done without major fanfair and drama, so no need to be bashful about it.

[Drew]

quijote, If the 3 stooges can slurp soup at a formal dinner party you can slurp wine in public.

Drew