How to Learn About Wine

Even a novice can appreciate a glass of wine, because wine and food are part of our daily lives. However, the more you know, the more fun it can be. Follow these tips from David Rosengarten, author of "Red Wine With Fish" and "The Dean and DeLuca Cookbook."

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Breads
• Cheeses
• Crackers
• Olives
• Wines
• Wine Glasses
• Olives

Starting Out

1. Keep in mind that wine is for food; that's how it was developed.

2. Enjoy wine, if not with a meal, then with cheese, bread, crackers or olives.

3. Employ the European sensibility when enjoying wine: Don't be intimidated by it.

4. Read about wine so you have an idea of what you're drinking. "The World Atlas of Wine" is an excellent book for beginners.

Learning More

5. Learn about the chemistry of wine making. Understand wine and analyze it technically.

6. Subscribe to wine geek newsletters such as the "Wine Spectator" or the "Wine Advocate."

7. Find a wine columnist or writer with whom your tastes seem to agree.

8. Find a writer whose palate seems to have been "separated at birth" from yours. Follow that critic.

9. Test the critic's palate against your own by tasting the same wines reviewed.

10. Organize your own wine tastings, both vertical and horizontal.

Tips & Warnings

• "Vertical" wine tastings focus on a single vineyard and sample a variety of their vintages. "Horizontal" wine tastings pick a category or subject, such as Napa Valley chardonnay or Bordeaux from the Loire, and taste various selections from that same vintage.
• When reading reviews, it's better to follow an individual critic as opposed to a panel. A wine chosen by an individual palate is better than a wine chosen by mutual agreement, where things are averaged out.

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[grapegirls]

on 3/13/2009 We love Rosengarten's book!

[donnelly38]

on 2/16/2009 Thank you!

[melsandiego]

on 1/11/2009 One of the best ways to learn about wine is to go wine tasting at wineries. You will get to sample lots of different wines and learn about wine from the staff in the tasting room. Find a wine region near where you live or that you can travel to; and increase your wine knowledge in a fun way.

Resources for Wine Tasting at Wineries:

New York Wineries:
http://www.newyorkwines.org/

California Wineries:
http://www.cheers2wine.com

Oregon Wineries:
http://www.oregonwine.org/Home/