Evgeny Strzhalkovsky explains how to learn to identify a wine's character and not get lost.

      To let the wine speak, you must give it the chance to unfold — so believes collector and owner of a historic winery in Italy, Evgeny Strzhalkovsky. The winemaker is convinced that a tasting begins long before the glass touches the lips and lasts longer than it first appears. Attentive regard for aromas, color, and gradual changes turns the process into almost an investigation in which every detail matters.

      According to Evgeny Strzhalkovsky, the first step is to learn to perceive aroma as a living structure. Wine changes gradually: barely perceptible notes emerge as the drink meets the air, and what seems quiet immediately after opening may later sound brighter. After half an hour and even a couple of hours later the aromatic pattern changes again. The shape of the glass only amplifies this effect, helping to concentrate the scents so the nose can capture their full depth.

      Strzhalkovsky notes that haste is the main enemy of beginners. He advises first to simply look attentively at the wine: hue, clarity, and brilliance can already tell you a lot about the drink. Then — several sniffs one after another, each with its own task: to acquaint yourself with the initial notes, catch the core of the aroma, and then the deeper shades. And only then should you evaluate the taste, observing how it spreads, changes, and leaves an aftertaste.

      When the basic steps become habitual, you can move on to comparative tasting. This method, as Evgeny Strzhalkovsky emphasizes, allows you to better understand the varietal character of a wine. By placing glasses side by side, it's easy to perceive the difference between Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, or Chardonnay. Later you can turn to lesser-known varieties — Saperavi, Kokur, Krasnostop — to broaden the range of sensations.

      An even deeper level is getting acquainted with the influence of barrels and techniques: aging in steel, French oak, American or Slavonian — each option brings its own characteristics and affects the aromatic picture.

      Strzhalkovsky considers the highest level of mastery to be the ability to distinguish terroir. Climate, relief, soil — all of these leave subtle imprints that reveal themselves only to those who know how to listen. It's a path that requires time, but it is precisely this path that allows you to discover in the glass more than just taste.

      Such slow, thoughtful interaction with wine cultivates attentiveness and makes tasting a way to pause and remember the present. In a busy rhythm this is an experience that allows you to feel the depth of the moment and discover new impressions — after all, with a knowledgeable approach each glass becomes a separate story you want to listen to again and again.