5 genius points to keep in mind next time you’re poured a glass of red.

Ever been to dinner and felt completely out of your depth with regards to your wine knowledge? Worry not, we’ve got it all under cover. Here are our favourite hints, tips and hacks to help you smooth your way into the night, just like a full-bodied Merlot.

  1. Divide and Conquer

Herald your wine bluff by dividing red wines from around the world into two basic categories; light or full-bodied. In general, dark purplish wines such as the Shiraz (often called Syrah), whereas more reddish-coloured wines tend to be more light-bodied. A good example of this is the Pinot Noir that is known for its ruby colour and flavourful palate (with hints of cherry and clove if you really want impress!).

  1. Amuse

Apart from colour here’s another handy party trick. Angle your glass over your wristwatch and peer through, if you’re able to read the time on your watch then *drumroll* you’re drinking a light-bodied wine. If on the other hand you can’t, then you’re onto some full-bodied action.

  1. Talk about it

Light-bodied wines are generally described using feminine adjectives such as ‘elegant’ or ‘delicate’. Full-bodied wines on the other hand tend to verge on macho with adjectives such as ‘handsome’, ‘bold’ or ‘dense’ being commonly used.

  1. Give it a sniff

When it comes to identifying aromas, the traditional ‘glass swirl’ is inevitable. What you really should be looking out for here is the smell of fruit. Full-bodied wines will smell of dark fruits such as raspberries, cherries, plums and other red fruits. Lighter bodied wines will generally offer aromas of lighter fruits such as peaches, pears and apricots. Play it safe and stick to commonly found fruits, leave the lychees and the almond petals for some other occasion.

  1. Give it a taste

Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for, take a sip and take some time to savour the the wine rather than gulping it down. If after swallowing your mouth feels slightly rough or dry here’s your cue; remark that the wine has “firm tannins” whilst nodding seriously in order to add a touch of class to your wine connoisseur finale.

If any of the above has made you smile and you’d like to give it a shot, the Vinotheque located at the Marina Hotel Corinthia Beach Resort, St Julian’s, offers a ‘Wine Flight’ menu option that includes being served with three different wines from dedicated Italian regions. Impress your guests with your newly discovered skills, and put our suggestions and recommendations to the test – cheers!