Taste in Words: Describing Wine Like a Sommelier

⏱ 5 MIN · CEFR B1

Taste in Words: Describing Wine Like a Sommelier

🍷 From my notebook:

At Uccello in Sydney, I once described a Barossa Shiraz to a table of eight. I used three adjectives — smoky, full-bodied, long finish — and the table ordered a second bottle. Language sold the wine. I realised then: in hospitality, words are the product.

🎯 By the end you will:

• Use 6+ taste and texture adjectives
• Describe a food or drink using a three-part structure
• Understand the phrase ‘on the palate’

📖 Key vocabulary (B1):

Adjective	Means	Opposite
full-bodied	rich, strong flavour	light-bodied
dry	not sweet	sweet
tannic	drying sensation in mouth	smooth
long finish	taste stays a long time	short finish
crisp	fresh, with acidity	flat, heavy

✅ Quick check: Which word means ‘not sweet’?

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✍️ Try it (2 min):

Describe any food or drink: It is ____ (colour/look), ____ (body/strength) with a ____ (taste) finish.

💡 Teacher’s tip (TTT):

Test first: ask students to describe a photo of food/drink without vocabulary. Teach the adjectives. Test again. The contrast is the learning.