Wine 101: A Beginners Guide – Chapter 1

Sep 3 2009

“Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it.” ~ Anonymous.

This quote is beyond true in my experience! While at a family barbecue several years ago, I tried a taste of my cousin’s wine, was disgusted, told my family they are nuts for drinking wine and I’ll just stick with beer, thank you very much. They all laughed and said, “Just wait a few years. By 22, you’ll be one of us.”

They were right; I now consider myself a wine-lover. And how did I get here – from college beer ponger and vodka tonics, to loving a good bottle of cabernet? I jumped in with both feet. There is no better way to start drinking wine than to do just that – drink and enjoy!

Remember to have an open mind to the possibilities of wine; this is supposed to be fun! When you go into tasting rooms, tell the attendants that you are just starting out and would really like to learn from their knowledge. They will be thrilled to teach you the building blocks of wine; which ones to start out with, how to taste wine, wine vocabulary, and what to pair with it. In this series, I will be the attendant, and give you my hints and suggestions.

If you have never enjoyed wine before, I suggest starting with a sweeter wine. A chenin blanc, riesling, viognier, gewurztraminer, or even a late harvest or ice wine will be your best bets to success. These wines are not going to knock you on your butt, because they have more of a fruit forward nose (smell) and palette (taste). Sweeter wines should be chilled to about 50degrees. If they are cooler than that, the flavors of the wine could be destroyed.

After you open the bottle and pour a glass, give it a little swirl. This allows the wine to breathe and will open up the aromas. Stick your nose in the glass, literally, and take a big whiff. For most of the above mentioned wines you will get a floral or fruity scent. After your nose has had the pleasure of the wine, let your taste buds in on the action. Take a drink and wash the wine all around your mouth. It will surprise you how it tastes different in the front of your mouth than in the back of the your mouth.

When this is all done, you are victorious! You have successfully tasted your first wine and are hopefully excited to move onto the next one.

My tip of the day: Take your time and enjoy wine; the bottle empties quicker than you think!