DrinksWine 101 - Choosing The Ideal Wine
Choosing wine can be a confusing task given the amount of options available. So, how do you go about making the right choice? The first step, as in all purchases, is to know what you like. It won"t matter if a wine store owner finds you the best Chardonnay on the market if what you really like are Merlots. Therefore, what you first need to do is taste a wine or two from the different types available (Shiraz, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, etc.), and figure out what you like.
On deciding which variety of wine you prefer, you"ll have made your wine buying trip significantly more straight-forward. Go into your local wine store, and walk around the section dedicated to the type of wine you decided upon. Check out the blurbs on the wine racks. Discard the "winery notes" supplied by the winemaker (these tend to be marketing material) and instead focus on the handwritten notes provided by the owner (who will be honest as their reputation depends on it).
Ask an employee of the store to assist you if there"s one available. Explain your wine preferences to them. Don"t be afraid to be specific about your likes and dislikes. They"ll have a good understanding of wine, and can make a reasonable guess at what would be best suited for you based on your preferences. Some will even offer free samples to you to help you make a decision.
Any wines that take your interest but you don"t end up buying on the day, note down the details from their labels. You can then research them on the internet when you get home or look out for them the next time you"re looking through a wine menu at a restaurant.
Lastly, remember that the enjoyment of wine has nothing to do with what "the perfect wine" is. It has everything to do with what pleases you. No wine reviewer or shop owner is going to have your exact taste in wine. Just because the experts say a particular wine is great, doesn"t necessarily mean that you"ll like it. Similarly, you may likes wines that no-one else seems to like.