Enjoying wine isnt something you should be ashamed of.
Wine often gets a bad rap.
How do you avoid getting entrenched in that intentionally obtuse and opaque market?
All you really need to do is drink more wine!
Drink different wines, from different parts of the world.
Start with differentvarietals, or those different types you see wines organized by at the liquor store.
Try apinot noir, then try acabernet sauvignon.
As you drink, youll come to associate specific flavors with specific types of wine.
Once you try something, make a note of it to yourself.
Now dont run out and buy a ton of wine and start making notes.
This is a slow, gradual process.
The goal here is to enjoy yourself and learn about your own tastes.
Dont make it a chore!
Use this as an opportunity to expand your horizons.
If you dont like a bottle, youre out the money you spent on it.
Seriously, even if you dont watch the show,follow him on Twitter.
Your local wine seller, or a wine store with knowledgable staff.
Talk to them about what you like, and see what they suggest based on their stock.
The point of all of this is to get a little guidance before you spend your money.
It can go a long way, especially from someone whos knowledgable.
Other times theres a cover, or youll want to book in advance.
Check outthis winery locator by stateorthis one from WineWebto find the closest one to you.
You never know, you might come away with some new favorites.
Youll build a palate profile that helps them tailor future wines to you.
Where its from, what it tastes like, what to eat with the wine, and more.
They also offer pretty deep discounts off of retail prices, which is nice to see.
Glassfulis another subscription service that picks out wines based on your tastes.
They offer one wine per day, and thats all until it sells out.
Then, at midnight, it goes away and is replaced with a new wine.
And remember,its possible to enjoy wine on a tight budget.
Keep your tasting notes to yourself.
Bringing a bottle or two of your favorite wine to a friends party is a great idea.
Regaling them with your detailed tasting notes isnt.
Like any passion, you should be able to enjoy wine for you, personally.
Everyone has different tastes, so what you love, someone else may hate.
What you smell, someone else may not pick up.
In the same vein, dont let anyone else set your wine budget.
There is no dollar amount at which wine transitions from bad to good or vice versa.
Judging a wine based on its price is a silly thing.
Trust yourself to be able to tell whats swill and whats delicious.
After all, thats the point of anythingto bypass the nonsense and learn whatyoulike and truly enjoy.
Wine is no different.
Illustration by Fruzsina Kuhari.
