Imagine a break in the day where the hustle and bustle of life is put aside, and your total attention is given over to the senses and the discovery of new wines and unexpected, heartening bargains. Tasting and evaluating wine is a challenge, one that requires endurance, focus and discipline, but it can bring benefits and pleasure.
Although everyone evaluates what they drink (even when imbibing from plastic cups in the park), many people find the idea of tasting to be unnerving. Like any skill, it requires a combination of technique and experience. We'll describe the technique and leave the gathering of experience as an enjoyable exercise.
One of the tricks of the trade is to taste in the most conducive environment possible. In short, remove all distractions. The essentials are a flat table, good lighting, absolutely no perfumes or after-shaves, and no strong flowers, scented candles or food smells.