Smell >>>    Simple wines have limited “aromatic” character; a wine with little bouquet will have little interest on palate. Fine wines are complex and exciting because they have abundance of aromatic elements. This is what sustains their “flavour” on the palate and makes their aftertaste so lingering. Such wine can be described as “highly aromatic”.

   The following methods are the most widely used to smell a wine.

1. Short, sharp sniffs; best for a quick impression.
2. Deep, prolonged sniffing; strongest impressions early on
3. Short, gentle sniffing; reveals smells that are fleeting
4. Prolonged, gentle sniffing

   How you use your glass will have an effect to which you can smell a wine. The following describes how to swirl.

1. Always hold the wine glass by the stem either between thumb and one or two fingers.
2. Swirl the glass anti-clockwise if you are right handed, and clockwise for left handed.
3. Begin swirling with the glass resting on the table until you are comfortable with the movement, then it will present no problem up in the air.

   When smelling a wine, you should do it when it is still. Before swirling and after it has been rested for a while. In this state, you will be able to pick up the lighter, finer aromas that the wine has to offer. After swirling, a little oxygen is added to the wine and helps to release all the aromas. However, you may not find a difference between “still” and “swirled” for a simple wine, which is meant to be drunk with food rather than savored.