How to Train Your Palate to Taste Wine Like a Pro

“The nose carries notes of crushed berries, fig, and fresh roses,” says the sommelier, describing the wine you’re tasting to decide whether to order a bottle.

Does it really smell like all those things? Sure—to a trained palate. If you’ve ever wished you could detect such subtle nuances while smelling and tasting wine, the good news is that you can, it just takes some practice.

Some people are born with attentive taste buds—a few lucky ones out there are considered “supertasters” and experience flavors with heightened intensity—but for most of us, developing our palate takes persistent work. What we refer to as our “palate” is really an intimate relationship between our olfactory sense and our taste buds. A large percentage of tasting is actually smelling—try chewing a piece of stinky cheese with your nose pinched shut, then let go to open your nostrils and notice the difference when you can actually smell.

There are several concrete ways that you can improve your palate, and most of them are quite enjoyable as well. Over time, you’ll be shocked at how differently you perceive the taste of wine as you train your palate to detect nuances. Try these tips from winemakers, sommeliers, and industry pros, and evolve your tasting skills.


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