On tasting wine

The following was a quick presentation I did for a presentation skills class I took about a year ago. It was actually pretty cool to do:

"I am going to show you the simple technique of tasting wine. Wine, like any food, can be a pleasurable experience that you share with others.
You can, however, maximize this pleasure by paying close attention to all the senses involved in the process of consuming the wine.
I can't tell you how many times I tell my wife to slow doing before taking that first sip. When you consume wine you
see the wine, smell the wine and taste the wine.

To see the wine
Use a clear wine glass.
Tilt against a light surface, preferably white. Also notice its color and intensity.
Pay attention to how clear or opaque the wine is. Listen to yourself on what you find pleasing. Too opaque for your liking? Or perhaps its sediment
pleases you as it reassures you the wine is naturally made, not overmanufactured.

To smell the wine
Tilt the glass about 45 degrees and put your nose right on the rim of the glass, collecting the scent that is accumulated inside of the glass bowl.
Once again pay full attention to what you are smelling. Try to identify and associate what you smell to things that are common to you, such as
berries, flowers, tobacco, mushrooms, earth, tar, gasoline, etc, even if you actually never smelled them before. These associations will help you
recall these smells later and you'll be able to not only recognize what you are tasting but also be able to recognize what you like or don't like.

To taste the wine.
Take a sip, but make it a nice size mouthful, without choking of couse, so that you can maximize the senses. Note the wine's sweetness and acidity.
For reds, how much tannin (that constricting feel you get in the mouth, like with tea). Once again, associate the flavors with anything that is common
to you. Notice the weight of the wine, is it light like skim milk or heavy like cream. Swallow the wine and notice how all these things change with time,
what lingers in the mouth.

To make this experience more exciting, practice this along with food to see how your sensory experience changes with the wine.

To summarize, by maximizing your awareness on each step of the wine tasting process, you can maximize the pleasure
you get out of drinking it and sharing with others."