What are the basic steps of the wine tasting process in order?

The standard order of the wine tasting process begins with looking at the wine. This initial visual assessment involves examining the wine's color, clarity, and viscosity, which can provide insights into the age and grape variety. After this, swirling the wine in the glass allows it to aerate, which releases aromatic compounds, enhancing the subsequent smelling step.

Next, smelling the wine is critical, as it is a significant part of assessing its quality and character. The aromas give clues about the wine's varietal, region, and potential aging characteristics. Following the assessment of scents, tasting the wine allows for a direct evaluation of its flavor profile, acidity, tannin structure, and overall balance. Finally, concluding the tasting involves synthesizing all the information gathered through the visual, aromatic, and tasting processes to form a comprehensive opinion about the wine.

This structured approach helps tasters systematically assess a wine, making option B the correct choice as it follows the proper sequence needed to evaluate the wine thoroughly.