The beginning of a new year is always the perfect time to dedicate yourself to new goals, especially when it comes to sharpening your senses and deepening your knowledge of the world of wine. For sommeliers, professionals, and enthusiasts alike, developing a more precise olfactory memory and a more refined taste sensibility can turn every tasting into an extraordinary journey. It is a practice that requires patience, dedication, and a lot of curiosity, but the results pay off with unique moments and personal satisfaction.
Our perception of aromas is incredibly powerful, but often underestimated. The sense of smell is a sense that is trained, just like a muscle, and works through memory: we can only recognize what we have already perceived and named. Think, for example, of wine aromas: the scent of fresh fruit, spices, or flowers is nothing more than a series of volatile molecules that our brain translates into familiar sensations. But to be able to capture even the most subtle nuances and describe them accurately, we have to train ourselves. It is a path that is built over time, starting with observation and direct experience.
A practical and fun exercise is to create a personal olfactory archive. You can use aroma samples or naturally occurring products, when they are available and as long as it is blind, to train yourself: take fruits such as strawberries, black currants, green apples, or apricots, then move on to spices, such as cloves, vanilla or black pepper, and add some roasted scents such as coffee or cocoa. Smell each sample several times, focusing on the sensation it gives you, and try to memorize it. Close your eyes and let your sense of smell guide you, unhurriedly. At first, it may seem complicated, but with time you will find that recognizing and associating aromas will become natural. It's a bit like learning a new language: at first, it seems impossible, but with practice and perseverance the words (or in this case, the scents) will imprint themselves in your memory.
The same attention is then applied to wine tasting. Don't stop at the first scent you perceive: gently rotate the glass and give yourself a few moments to explore the aromatic bouquet. Young, fresh wines often give off primary scents, such as fresh fruit or freshly bloomed flowers, while more complex tertiary aromas, such as leather, tobacco, goudron, or balsamic notes, emerge in aged wines. It is fascinating to note how the same wine can evolve in the glass: as soon as it is poured it might be closed, but with a few minutes of oxygenation it reveals all its aromatic richness. The aromas unfold little by little, like the pages of a book telling the story of its terroir, the grape variety, and the time it has spent refining.
The taste phase also deserves proper attention. Tasting a wine means not only evaluating its taste in the strict sense but also allowing oneself to be guided by the tactile and aromatic sensations in the mouth. A sip should be rotated gently, to reach every area of the tongue and release all the aromatic nuances through retro-olfaction. It is at this stage that great wines reveal their persistence: the longer the flavors and aromas remain in the mouth, the more complex and structured the wine is. Intense aromatic persistence, which professionals measure in seconds, is often the hallmark of a superior wine.
At this time of year, winter aromas are particularly interesting to explore. Aged reds tell stories of dark spices, sweet tobacco, and toasty notes, while hints of honey, bread crust, and candied fruit emerge in the evolved whites. Being enveloped in these scents is an experience that evokes warmth, tradition, and moments of shared pleasure.
Sensory training is a journey that never ends. Even the most experienced professionals keep practicing and discovering new details, because wine, with its infinite variety of scents and flavors, always offers something new. Whether you are a sommelier, an expert, or an enthusiast, taking time to develop your senses is the best gift you can give yourself this New Year. It is an investment in yourself, in your ability to observe, perceive, and appreciate every moment, glass after glass.
Begin this journey with curiosity and passion. Your senses will guide you to discoveries and allow you to experience each tasting as a unique experience. With TasterPlace, you have all the tools to transform your sense of smell and hone your sensory skills. This is the perfect year to rediscover the authentic pleasure of a wine told through its aromas, structure, and history.