There’s no question selecting and purchasing wine can be a challenging (even daunting) task for some people. But when your “wine confidence” is flying high, choosing the right wine becomes exponentially easier and, believe it or not, even fun.
You may be curious what I mean by wine confidence? Wine confidence is a unique and delicious blend of wine appreciation, wine knowledge and self-confidence. While it’s great to appreciate the flavours and history of, say, a Napa Valley Cabernet, it’s another thing to have the confidence to select just the right wine for an intimate romantic rendezvous.
Ange’s recent article on the “5 Easy Steps for Tasting Wine” (sight, swirl, smell, sip and savour) got to the core of wine confidence, but there are few other things you need to know so you can confidently pick the best wines every time.
Here are two more keys to help you unleash your wine confidence.
1. Know What You Enjoy
The first and foremost is know what you like. Do you know what your favourite grape varieties, wine regions or wineries are? To find out, you need to taste (not just drink) a variety of wines from around the world. Try visiting wine fairs, attending retail tastings or joining a wine club to expand your exposure so you can begin to recognize what you like and don’t.
Tips: Always be open-minded and try new things. Avoid randomly selecting bottles because the label looked so darn cute. Once you know what you like, explore and inquire about what other wine drinkers like too.
2. Seek Advice
Have you ever got lost driving somewhere and failed to ask someone in-the-know for directions? I know I have. And it’s a shame because we waste so much time, energy and money on the wrong path. It’s the same for wine, so find an expert and ask for suggestions.
When you know what you like and/or what your guests like, it really helps sommeliers and wine store staff to direct you to something everyone will enjoy. For example, if you and your date particularly like dry Rieslings, it makes it much easier for a wine steward to recommend another similar and exciting wine – such as an Austrian Grüner Veltliner. Other details beyond personal preference that can help are: what the occasion is and what you will be serving it with. Voila, you’ll receive some solid recommendations.
Another way to learn about wine and to get recommendations is by following wine writers (like us) who recommend their favourite wines. Many people read reviews by Robert Parker and Toronto Life’s David Lawrason to help them have a greater sense of buyer confidence and increased pleasure, too. Doing this can take some of the pressure off you, but please don’t default to expert recommendations all the time. Try to develop your own opinion and your own story for why you like certain wines, so that you can be a wine leader in your own circle of influence.
So there you have it, two more keys to help you unlock your wine confidence and help you select the best bottle every time. Stay tuned for my next article where I will explore Wine Intuition – The art of selecting wine based on your mood, environment and even the weather.
Cheers,
Paxton
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Angela Aiello and Paxton Allewell's wine column can be read every Thursday on sweethome.ca/wine. They are wine specialists and the founders of the acclaimed iYellow Wine Club based in Toronto. For more info, check out their bio.