Step 4
of 5
Sip
A proper mouthful — not a tiny sip. Move the wine around. Coat the entire mouth, hold for 5–10 seconds. Some sommeliers pull a little air in through pursed lips while the wine is in the mouth — it amplifies aroma even more.
You're checking five things, in order: sweetness (most Argentine wines are dry), acidity (mouth-watering at the sides), tannin for reds (drying, gripping feeling), body (light, medium, full), and flavor (confirming what you smelled).
The four together = the structure of the wine. Great wine has all four in balance.
