Blind wine tasting: do you really know what you’re drinking?
When the label disappears, only the wine remains — and that’s where the true discovery begins.
Following yesterday’s “blackout”, we challenge you: with your eyes closed, would you choose the most expensive wine? Or simply the one you enjoy the most?
What is a blind wine tasting?
It’s a tasting where you don’t know what wine is being served. No label, no region, no price, no producer.
It can be done with covered bottles, numbered glasses, or with the help of a friend.
The goal? To judge the wine purely through your senses — colour, aroma, flavour and texture — without any preconceptions, and find out what your palate truly enjoys.
Why does this matter?
Because our brain also drinks with our eyes.
Studies show that an attractive label or a high price can influence our perception. Blind tastings eliminate that “noise” and place the wine — just the wine — at the centre of the experience. That’s why sommeliers, winemakers and competition judges use them.
How to host a blind tasting at home?
You don’t need much:
3 to 5 different wines (varying in price, region or style)
Identical wine glasses
Labels or codes for each wine
A neutral volunteer who knows which wine is which
Pen and paper to write down your notes
Tip: take your time and trust your senses.
What can a blind tasting reveal?
You might be surprised:
The cheapest wine might be your favourite.
A region you thought “wasn’t for you” might win you over.
You might discover you enjoy grapes you always avoided.
Often, affordable wines shine for their freshness and balance, while premium wines, when well made, impress with their complexity and long finish.
In the end, it’s not about the label — it’s about the pleasure wine brings to the drinker.
How to taste wine – even with eyes wide open?
Look – Observe the colour and clarity.
Smell – Swirl and sniff: ripe fruit? flowers? spices?
Taste – A small sip: how does it feel? Acid, tannins, body?
Reflect – Is the finish short or long? What memory does it leave?
With practice, you’ll start to recognise styles, regions — and, most importantly, trust your own taste.
Try a blind tasting at home.
You might just discover that your favourite wine is closer (and more affordable) than you think.
At Vinha.co.uk, you’ll find hundreds of wines from all regions, styles and price ranges — perfect for your next blind discovery.
