Learning to properly taste wine has immense practical benefits that will enhance your ability not to parse its sophisticated parts but that will immediately increase your ability to enjoy them at a deeper level. The long term benefit to you is that you will begin to choose better wines, have much more stimulating wine experiences and build long lasting memories of those experiences and, as you know, everyone enjoys a good story.

Reason number one - Focusing on anything worthwhile allows our brains to engage the subject matter and derive greater appreciation and understanding. This could be artwork, a project at work, a hobby endeavor, a plate of delicious food, a romantic prospect or a glass of fine wine. True appreciation is always hidden in the details, the nuances of which are only evident upon closer and more attentive examination. The skill required and the benefit of focused wine tasting is no secret or occult skill but something we intuitively employ in many other areas of our lives. A master mechanic does not become so by mindless engagement with the parts of a car and a financial analyst does not achieve expertise by staring at a computer screen full of complex charts and numbers. The benefit of attentive tasting evaluation is the ability to parse good wine at greater depths resulting in deeper enjoyment much of which is tied to the contemplation, even if momentary, to its complex parts consisting of its appearance, aromatics, flavors and texture. How does one become a professional taster...simply as with anything else...practice, repetition, mindful engagement and persistence. It is the same formula of success you have already achieved in another area of your life. 

Reason number two - Learning to be a competent wine taster will allow you to select better wines for yourself with much better consistency and success. This will also benefit your friends, dinner guest, business associates and anyone else you choose to share your wines with. 

Reason number three - If you choose to one day collect fine wines then becoming more professional in your tasting approach will give you the skill set to choose wines that merit a place in your collection and that suite your personal taste. You will avoid overpriced wines that do not merit their reputation and hype and enable yourself to find the gems hidden among a sea of offerings. 

For the how to taste like pro, see the other blog post on that topic. Taking the next step puts you one step closer to better wine experiences.