It certainly is more fun and a lot easier than the LSATS! But if you want to improve your wine tasting experience, consider committing the L.S.I.T.S. to memory for the next time you are in a tasting room.
Broken down, LSITS stands for:
Look - LOOK at what's in your wine glass, ideally against a white background. Look for color, clarity, and cling. If it's cloudy/hazy, something is not right.
Sniff - Quickly give the wine a sniff. Swirl the wine, then sniff again. What are your first impressions? What is your nose telling your brain to expect from the bouquet/nose/note/forward?
Inhale deeply - Did you know that 80% of our tasting process is determined by what we smell? Get your nose down into the glass and really take a noseful in.
Taste - Finally...taste it! Let a sip roll around on your tongue. Allow the flavors to mingle on your palate. Don't gulp! Leave enough in your glass to take a second taste. You'll be pleasantly surprised how much your second taste may not always taste the same as your initial one.
Swallow & Savor - After you swallow your sip, what is the 'finish' like? What is left in your mouth? Sweetness? Jamminess? Tannins? Does it change when you take that first breath in? How would various foods change the finish?
Beware the power of suggestion whether it be from the one pouring the wine, the company you keep, or strangers at the bar. Wine tasting and determining what you like/taste/think should be a personal and subjective experience. While wine tasting is a social experience, better enjoyed by others (whether they be novices or experts) be careful of letting the perception of others influence your experience with a wine.
Cheers!
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