Becoming more wine savvy is an education of the senses. Here are some ideas to get you started…
1. Visit Wineries And Taste New Types Of Wines
If you live near wine country, this will be as easy as spending a relaxed weekend afternoon tasting at several different wineries. Note: limit yourself to no more that four wineries, take breaks for leisurely meals, and enjoy the scenery…you’re here to have fun. Otherwise, consider taking a short (or long!) vacation to a wine region, either in the US or in Europe. As fun as it is to taste what you know you already love, mix things up by tasting all through a winery’s offerings; you might find something new, and you’ll definitely expand your knowledge. Remember: Don’t drink. Spit. You’ll last a lot longer!
2. Get To Know Your Local Wine Shop
Stop by you local wine shop(s) and get to know the owners. Tell them what you like and that you’d like to try other, similar, wines…or even that you’d like to try something completely different. Let them know what types of foods you most frequently cook or order, so they have a good idea of what to suggest.
3. Host A Wine Tasting Party
We wrote a series of posts on this (see one, here), but the main point is to choose a varietal like Pinot Noir, have each guest bring a bottle from a different producer, add some complimentary foods, and have a wonderful time comparing notes!
4. Read The Shelf Tags In Stores
Here’s an easy way to try new wines: walk into any supermarket or big box store with a wine department. Read the tags hanging on the edge of the shelves. Look for tags advertising wines that have scored between 85-95 points from well-known magazines and competitions (Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Decanter are three examples). Buy one of those wines and try it out with its recommended foods (frequently found on the back label of the wine bottle).
5. Read Wine Magazines
The above-mentioned magazines are superstars in the world of wine reviews, but there are also magazines that combine food and wine information, such as Food & Wine and the irreverent WineX. Try out a couple of issues, find your favorites, and buy some subscriptions. In no time, your wine knowledge will skyrocket.
6. Follow Winery And Wine Writers Online
By following your favorite wineries on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll get breaking news on any new releases and information about their wines, their people, and life in the vineyards. It’s a great way to show support and learn more. We’ll cover our favorite wine bloggers in an upcoming post.
7. Take A Wine Course
You don’t have to actually go to a college to take wine courses. There are online opportunities (read our post about UC Davis courses), as well as local courses hosted by wine education centers, wineries, wine shops, culinary academies, kitchen stores, and sometimes even restaurants.
Any of these ideas will broaden your knowledge, enrich your life, and are just plain fun. Try a few and your knowledge will soar. Cheers!
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