Feb 16 2009
How Do We Start?
One of the first things people ask me is: “how will I know what wines I will like”. Realistically there is only one way to find out what you like and that is to taste wine. Of course you don’t want to spend a lot of money in the beginning while you are discovering what wines suit you. And you don’t have to visit actual vineyards or tasting rooms just yet. Simply visit your favorite grocery store. Chances are they will have a decent selection of wines to get you started. When I first started tasting wines my strategy was to spend $10 or less on the bottle.
So heres your assignment. Next time you are at the grocery store choose a bottle and go for it. Try to pick something in a reasonable price range. You don’t want to spend too much at this point. Remember that this is a discovery stage and there may be a chance that you don’t like the taste of what you selected. If this is the case don’t be afraid to throw the wine out. You should not feel obligated to finish it if it is something that you just don’t love.
It’s also a good idea to choose a wine from an area you are familiar with. Everyone knows that Napa Valley makes great wines, so this is a good place to start. Of course if you spy a wine that is from an area you’ve visited, go ahead and try that one. Familiarity makes the tasting a little more interesting.
Lastly take the time to really taste the wine. Resist the urge to simply pour a glass with your dinner. The popular census these days is to just drink what you like and not focus too much on food pairing. However, the simple fact of the matter is that wine does take on different characteristics with certain foods. So to really taste your wine, sit down, pour a glass and take a good long sip. Don’t worry about smells or sights. We’ll get to that later.
In the following posts we’ll start to discuss the specific types of wine out there and their individual characteristics. We’ll also talk about visiting wine tasting rooms and vineyards and how to get the most for your money. I’d love to hear what you are tasting so feel free to leave comments and suggestions and of course questions, because we are all in this “wide world of wine” together!
Until next time, happy tasting!
just wanted to have the honor of being the first comment! and wanted to say how much this blog will be a huge help. i’m sure it will narrow down all the MOUNTAINS of information out there… it’s a little intimidating for an even MORE amateur wino… infant even.. like me!
Looking forward to the next bit of tasty info!
-Bren.
Brenda, I completely agree. This blog is going to be soooo helpful, I am excited to continue learning more about wine. While I am not an “infant” amateur wino in consumption, I am in knowledge and as a “budding bartender” I need to learn as much as possible…..
Kim
This is really good! I am so glad you are doing this — it will help me so much to find a wine I will truly love! So far it’s the Zin for me
A well known vineyard owner and chef stated, “Drink what you like and like what you drink” How true that statement is, as you so wonderfully explained!
Wine is a never ending knowledge base, it is so fun learning all te different aspects in the wine industry, as an intermediate wine drinker, I look back at all I have learned and realize I have only just begun
Thanks for such a great source to come to for information and suggestions. Look forward to the upcoming articles.
Chaunce