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6 S’s of Wine Tasting

As you dive into DOMSOM’s content regarding the 4 white wine varietals and 4 red varietals, we will be describing the varietals using a set of common terms.  To make learning about wine easier and help you better understand what you are tasting, smelling and experiencing when you drink wine, DOMSOM focuses on what we call “The 6 S’s of Wine”.  If you walk through each of the “S’s” when you drink wine, you will begin to learn how to better describe what you are drinking or help others better describe what they are experiencing, or what they enjoy and prefer in a wine.  This results in a much better wine experience for everyone!  

The 6 S’s of Wine

  • Sight – what do you see when you look at wine in a glass?
  • Swirl – what impact does the wine have on the glass when you swirl it?
  • Smell – what do you smell when you stick your nose into a glass of wine?
  • Sip – what initial flavors do you taste when you take a sip of wine?
  • Swish – what additional flavors appear when let wine linger in your mouth?
  • Savor – how long does the wine’s flavor and feel remain in your mouth?

From vineyard to bottle, the journey of a white wine grape can impact everything from the wine’s aroma, to flavor, to color, to the experience you have when you drink it.  DOMSOM’s curriculum is design to cover the highlights and give you a deeper understanding of the key US varietals, how they may differ from each other as well as their “cousins” from other regions around the globe.  Not all chardonnays taste the same and not all sauvignon blanc wines go through the same wine making process.  As a result hundreds, if not thousands, of variations of wines styles can be found in wine shops and grocery stores and on wine lists at restaurants, social clubs or other venues.

At DOMSOM, we are firm believers wine is one of the most exciting and interesting drinks you will experience even if you try only the grape varietals covered by DOMSOM!This Module’s accompanying videos will give you an opportunity to taste a wine along with us and to decide for yourself what you are experiencing!