Discovery / Tasting & Pairings
Follow your curiosity · Use your own words
Tasting & Pairings
Trust your curiosity. Give colour, aroma, texture and the food on your plate something to talk about.
Choose a small discovery.
You do not need an expert vocabulary or a cupboard of specialised glasses. Start with one observation: a colour, a familiar scent, a mouth-watering sensation, or a food match you like. These guides help you describe it and follow the next question.
01 / DISCOVER
How to Taste Wine
A relaxed sequence for looking, smelling, tasting and noticing what you enjoy.
Explore →02 / DISCOVER
Wine Aroma & Flavour Wheel
An original T2C wheel with eight starting families and examples to explore.
Explore →03 / DISCOVER
Wine Colour Guide
Compare shades and depth without turning colour into a quality score.
Explore →04 / DISCOVER
Texture & Balance
Separate sweetness, freshness, drying grip, warmth and weight.
Explore →05 / DISCOVER
Food & Wine Pairing Basics
Start with the dish, change one thing, and follow your own preference.
Explore →06 / DISCOVER
My Cork Dork Tasting Sheet
A simple printable page for the bottle, your impressions and what you would try next.
Explore →Your glass. Your words.
A universal glass is welcome. Use the same glass shape when comparing wines, keep the pours modest, and have water available. Looking at labels, smelling familiar ingredients or comparing producer notes can also be useful discoveries without opening a bottle.
The wheel supplies prompts, not ingredients. The colour guide supplies approximate visual examples, not a test of age or quality. Pairing ideas are starting experiments, with your enjoyment at the centre.
Where shall we wander next?
Behind this introduction
Editorial sources checked 16 October 2026. T2C diagrams, examples and exercises are original editorial learning aids. Individual wines and preferences vary.