Admit it: you’ve done it too, at least once. Maybe during a tasting, at dinner or simply in front of a special glass of wine. You brought the glass to your nose and paused, trying to catch its aromas.

But have you ever asked yourself: how many times is it “right” to smell a wine? Is there a maximum number? Or is it a gesture that can be repeated endlessly, without limits? These questions are more common than you might think. And yes, there is a fairly clear answer.

As is often the case, wine etiquette offers precise guidance on how many times and when it’s appropriate to do it. In this article, we reveal everything you need to know.

How many times should you smell the wine according to Etiquette?

The olfactory examination is the second phase of the sensory analysis of wine, right after the visual inspection and before the tasting. It’s a crucial moment because it allows you to assess the wine’s aroma. Specifically, during this phase, you evaluate the type, intensity, complexity and quality of the aromas.

The classic technique for capturing the wine’s aromas involves gently bringing the glass to your nose and smelling its scents. It’s a simple gesture that should be done with utmost moderation, the key principle that accompanies every rule of etiquette, not just those related to wine. No exaggerations, excesses or showy moves, just discretion.

The same principle applies to the olfactory examination: overdoing or exaggerating the act of smelling the wine is a big no-no. Doing it repeatedly not only comes across as unrefined, but can also give the impression of distrust, as if you feared the wine wouldn’t meet expectations.

Ok, moderation is the key. But then, how many times at most should you smell the wine? According to wine etiquette:

the wine in the glass should be smelled twice, three times at most.

In short, three is the maximum allowed, no more than that.

You could easily smell the wine just once, ideally after swirling it in the glass to help release the aromas. But typically, there are two steps:

Smelling the Wine with a still glass

It’s good practice to first smell the wine with the glass still, without swirling it. At this stage, you pick up the most volatile aromas, those that the wine releases naturally, right after being poured.

Smelling the wine after swirling the glass

Next, you can smell the wine after swirling it in the glass. This motion helps release the more complex and less immediate aromas, revealing the full breadth and richness of the wine’s bouquet.

Smelling a third time is acceptable, but only in the case of wines with extremely complex aromas, where an additional analysis is needed to capture the numerous nuances. In all other cases, it’s better to stop at two. There’s no need to overdo it or make a show of it.

You got the answers you were looking for, didn’t you?