Why Blind Tasting Is Overrated

By Paolo Galloni

Forget the guessing game … here’s how to actually enjoy wine

Blind tastings. Some call them a game. Others, a blood sport. For collectors, sommeliers, and obsessed wine lovers, there’s a thrill in identifying a bottle without seeing the label. I’ve done dozens myself, decades ago, under the legendary Master Sommelier Roger Dagorn; I had to master blind identification just to earn my diploma.

But there’s a huge difference between tasting blind for professional rigor and doing it to show off at a dinner party. Lately, blind tastings have popped up everywhere: workshops, seminars, even elimination-style contests for complete novices. Fun? Sure. Intimidating? Absolutely. Wine is supposed to be a pleasure, not a puzzle.

I can even imagine a reality-show version: contestants racing to identify a $100 supermarket wine in thirty minutes. Entertaining? Maybe. Useful? Not at all. Wine isn’t about proving you know more than anyone else. It’s about experiencing flavor, aroma, and story. Blind tasting shouldn’t feel like a test; it should spark curiosity and conversation.

Master Sommelier Sabato Sagaria used to do it differently. When guests freeze in front of a daunting wine list, he poured two wines blind, one familiar, one new. He never quizzed them. He didn’t judge. He helped them figure out what they actually like. Blind tasting done right is a tool for discovering your palate, not someone else’s knowledge.

Too often, though, blind tastings at dinner parties turn friendly meals into competitions. Friends argue over grape, vintage, or region while missing the point entirely. Wine should be shared, savored, and talked about, not debated like a final exam. The best bottle isn’t the one you can name blind. It’s the one you enjoy, every sip of it.