After pouring the wine into the glass, how should you hold the glass? Don't assume that holding the belly of the glass with your hand is the most stable way—it's actually wrong. The heat from your palm will cause the wine in the glass to warm up, which in turn affects the release of flavor compounds. You should hold the cup by pinching the base with your thumb, index finger, and middle finger; you can also pinch the stem between the bowl and the base. Observing the color mainly involves checking the clarity, luster, and hue of the wine. Tilt the glass at a 45-degree angle and observe the edge color and main color of the wine. Experienced tasters primarily judge the "age" of the wine through its depth and tone of color. After swirling the glass, the wine leaves streaks on the inside walls of the glass. The more dense, fine, long-lasting these streaks are, the more alcohol, glycerin, or sugar the wine contains, indicating a richer and sweeter wine. Smelling focuses on three aspects: the intensity, quality, and type of the wine's aroma. Bring the glass close to your nose and inhale slowly. Sometimes various aromas, including fruity and floral scents, appear simultaneously, which is part of the allure of wine. Additionally, after taking the glass in hand, to increase the contact between the wine and air and fully release its fragrance, you can swirl the glass in a circular motion parallel to the table. For tasting, the act of savoring is the most crucial step in wine appreciation. The taste profile of wine includes sweetness, acidity, tannins, and alcohol. First, take the wine into your mouth, make chewing and sucking motions, and repeatedly swirl it around to let the wine's aroma spread throughout your mouth. After these actions, you can swallow the wine. However, the tasting experience doesn't end there because the lingering aroma of the wine has persistence, known as the finish. (Image source: CFP)