Sometimes we drink to drink, but sometimes? We drink to assess. Even if you’re not a pro, learning tasting basics has its advantages. It’s like knowing a little music theory—looking for the musical themes in Beethoven can boost your emotional response to the sonata. It’s the same with wine.
Try to start paying attention to a wine’s acid, salt and tannin—the basis for its texture and structure—and the main themes in the glass. The aromatics are interesting but not as important. To help you out, here’s a little explanation of terminology.