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Downloadable Tasting Note Templates

If you want to start building your personal inventory of wines you have tried and need a simple way to do it, we have a couple of different tasting note templates now available in the Resources section of our site. One version is quick and simple for those times when you just want to throw a few basics down. But if you want to do a more in-depth review of a wine, we also have a longer, more complete version. Either way, you can start better developing your sense for what wines you like and why. And, after all, that's all that matters - what YOU like.


A couple of quick notes on the templates:

  • While we do go through all the same steps as a traditional, formal wine tasting, our overall approach is intended to be far more personal. It's about what you think about a wine, not what anyone else tells you that you should find in a wine or what they think about whether a wine is any good.

  • We don't focus on the reasons certain aromas and flavors are present in a wine. For most people, it doesn't matter if the aroma or flavors comes from early or late stages in the wine production process. All that matters is what the aromas and flavors are. If you want to learn more about the process and the reasons for certain aromas, then by all means, we encourage you to do so. It is a fascinating subject. But we believe overcomplicating the process prevents people from truly enjoying it.

  • Remember, the process is simple: what did I see, what did I smell, what did I taste and did I like it. That's all. And none of those questions have to take much time to answer. It can be as simple as "dark purple, berries, flowers, pepper, very punchy, flavor lasted a long time." If you feel like turning that into "deep purple, consistent across the glass with a little bit of brown at the edges, blueberry pie, violets, white pepper, very mouth drying and mouth filling, long finish," wonderful. The more detail you can add, the better you can tell this wine from another one later on. But as long as you have enough to remember what you did and didn't like about the wine, you have done all you need to do.

  • There are two other parts of the tasting notes that are pretty important for you to complete - the appellation and the grapes. You won't always be able to find both of these, but make sure to get as much of this down as you can. Why are these important? Because you may think you like a certain grape (for example, chardonnay), but you may discover that you really only like it from one specific region (for example. Chablis) because the flavors can be so different from one region to another. Why won't you always be able to put both on your tasting note? Because many wines, especially European wines, don't put the grapes on the label. So unless you just happen to know that, by regulation, the only grape that goes in a Chablis is chardonnay, then you're out of luck when looking at the label on a Chablis. but as long as you know that you like Chablis, then you can use that knowledge when shopping at your local wine shop or when looking at a wine list at a restaurant or bar.

  • Yes, we understand you won't always be able to pull out a sheet and fill it in when you are out with friends, but you can always do it later. While you''re out, use the tool you always have handy - the notes app on your phone. Then, when you have time later, you can complete the tasting notes. Even if you never use the templates, just going through the steps of taking a few notes on your phone will help you build your inventory.


Most importantly, ENJOY THE GLASS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU!





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