Interested in Wine? Tips to Get you Started

If you were not brought up in a family that drinks wine then you may have began drinking wine as an adult – Just as we did.  For us, it was a decision we made because it helped us mingle in social situations, we enjoyed it with our meals and we learned that there were some potential health benefits (you are on your own with this one – I have a slight allergy to sulfites so our research was a bit more involved in this area and included conversations with doctors.  You may want to do the same as we are not doctors-nor do we claim to be!).

-Absolutely no one on this planet can tell you what type of beverage or flavor, especially when it comes to wine, that you will appreciate, like, and enjoy.  Our taste buds are what would rule that conversation!  For instance, if you are add lemon to your fish you might like a dry, yet fruity white wine, perhaps a Pinot Grigio, or if lighter is better for you then a White Zinfandel might suit you better.  On the other hand, if you like your coffee black your preference could be for a heavy red wine that has more tannin.

In order to find out what your true favorite is you can start in a good restaurant, or ask about local tastings in your area.  Order a glass and get a different choice each time you go out so that you are experiencing a variety and not just limiting yourself to one or two selections.  You may find, as we did, that the variety and knowledge base is greater at a tasting – even though they are often there to sell their own product, they have a far greater 'reach' when it comes to product knowledge and make better 'guides' in the world of wine choices, plus it's fun to go.  Try to figure out in your travels and sampling what it is about certain types or brands that you like best and try to gain more information about those that you particularly like or enjoy.  We enjoy going in the Spring and Summer the best because not only are there more people out and about, but distributors are more willing to talk about what is realistically going to be produced, or has been produced, they have more knowledge of the growing season so they are more helpful in that way to you.

We discovered that both red and white wine have benefits. There are benefits from a white grape and benefits from a red grape.  Research on brands of wine is based on all wine, not just a brand of wine.  No matter what your financial tastes are, the benefit is in drinking wine – be it red or white.  One thing we watch out for is sulfites in wine.  I have a slight allergy so that fact often affects our choices.

Being wine enthusiasts we enjoy a glass of wine with dinner and hate standing in front of a large selection wondering which one to pick, so we began by calculating a wine budget, then taste-testing until we decided which preferences we had.  What was most important for is, though was that it was something we enjoyed so we took our learning slow and serious.  You can too.