How to Be a Wine Connoisseur

The world of wine is a fascinating culture with a cult-like following. There's much to learn about wine, how it's made, what vineyards produce the best grapes and how to spot the top vintages. If you don't have the time to take all that in, you can skim the surface and sound like a wine pro in a matter of days. Set aside that foamy beer and follow this guide to becoming an instant wine connoisseur.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Know the jargon. The fastest way to master wine is to learn the vocabulary. For example, the "vintage" is the year the grapes from which the wine was made were harvested. The vintage year is clearly marked on most bottles. The word "magnum" refers to a large bottle of wine, equal to two bottles of regular size. Other important words to get comfortable with: vineyard, winery, mouth feel, varietals, corked, finish, grapes, tasting and sommelier.

2. Get to know the grapes. When connoisseurs talk about "varieties" or "varietals" they are speaking of the grape used to harvest the wine. White wine comes from the following grapes: chardonnay, riesling, sauvignon blanc, chenin blanc, pinot grigio (or pinot gris) and semillion. Red wines are produced from these grapes: cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir, shiraz (or syrah), zinfandel and grenache. Champagne comes directly from grapes grown only in Champagne, France.

3. Learn about regions. Wine is harvested in certain "regions" of the world. The most famous wine regions are Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne in France and Napa Valley in California. Australia, Spain, Italy and many areas in California all have world-renowned wine regions. South Africa and California's Paso Robles are both "up and coming" wine regions.

4. Pick up a copy of "Wine Spectator" magazine and check out Robert Parker's website at erobertparker.com. Among wine connoisseurs, these are generally considered to be the best sources.

5. Know the critics. Wine critics are a key part of vino culture. Knowing their names will help you get by as a connoisseur. Here are a few good names to being with: Clive Coates, Stephen Tanzer, Robert Parker and Paolo Tullio. There are many more, but dropping these names will ensure your position as a wine connoisseur. If you come across any articles by these writers, read them as part of your wine education.

6. Develop your taste buds. Wine is meant to be tasted and enjoyed. Train your nose and mouth to discern between tastes and fragrances so that you can intricately describe wine. Connoisseurs use adjectives to describe the wine tasting experience. For example, a chardonnay might be described as "dry, with a hint of lemon and butterscotch, some melon, but a not too fruity, subtle finish." It's a long road to being able to pinpoint all of thoses flavors in a glass of wine, but practice makes perfect.

Tips & Warnings

• Study your cult wines. Certain vineyards are worshipped obsessively by wine connoisseurs. Here are a few to keep your ears open for: Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Kistler (all in California) and Amon Ra (in Australia).
• Learn the general rules of how to pair wine with food. Pairing skills ensure your status as a wine connoisseur. Ehow has many informative articles on this topic.
• Attend a wine festival or wine auction. You'll blend right in with the connoisseurs and collectors at these events.
• Always hold a glass of wine by the stem. Serious wine connoisseurs don't allow the heat of their palm to raise the temperature of the wine.

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Resources

• Robert Parker, wine critic and publisher of a wine-related e-zine