Wine Tasting

Semi-fictional reader question:
“Ok, you’re starting to convince me that wine really isn’t as scary as it’s portrayed in popular culture. Now what? What do I do to learn about and taste wine?”

I know I’m not keen to shell out a huge amount of money to learn about wine...or really for anything. I’ve purchased a few books and have been lucky enough to work in the wine industry where instruction is inevitable—but the most helpful aspect of my wine education has been to just taste wine. That’s something everyone can do easily and without a lot of expense.

Winemakers want you to taste their wine. Wine is a product that tends to build great consumer loyalty, so the more people who sample it, the greater the potential fan base. Free tastings, or those with a nominal fee, are readily available all over the country.

http://www.localwineevents.com/ is a great resource. You can sign up for daily or weekly updates to alert you to what wine events are happening in your city. Many of the events listed are on the pricey side, but the website often includes free tastings.

Grocery store tastings
Illegal in many U.S. states, but quite popular in others, grocery store tastings are a great way to sample affordable wines. Try checking your local Whole Foods, Wild Oats, PCC, Metropolitan Market, and other higher-end or natural foods stores for their wine programs.

Wine shop tastings
This is probably your best bet for tastings. Your local small wine retailer, or even larger wine merchant, almost certainly puts on weekly or monthly tastings—and they’re probably free. Staff at these stores are usually knowledgeable, and the probability that the person pouring is a representative from a winery, or the winemaker, is fairly high. Just be sure to go with an open mind, and not just to drink.

Regional events
Wine regions like Burgundy, Bordeaux, Paso Robles, Washington State, and sundry Australian groups travel all over to grow their consumer base. Typically they produce events for wine trade like restaurateurs, sommeliers and wine buyers, but often there is a component for wine enthusiasts. Local wine retailers will know about these tastings, and often they’ll be included on wine websites.

Winery tours
Chances are there’s a winery near where you live. Even if you’re convinced your palate is built only for Australian Shiraz, trying a Muscadine wine from Georgia, a Riesling from New York or a Lodi Chardonnay will give you a more well-rounded appreciation of all wines. Find out what wineries are near you, and take a few hours of a weekend to check a couple out. You may be surprised by what you find.

Need help finding a winery near you? It may be worth joining WineAmerica Trailblazers. For a yearly fee, you have access to the website which has lists of wineries by state, as well as other resources.

Another fun way to learn: http://tv.winelibrary.com/. Some people find this guy, Gary Vaynerchuk, rather annoying. I find him pretty hilarious and passionate about wine. This is definitely worth a look.

Valentine's Day Approaches

One week until Valentine’s Day, and many people still haven’t picked out a gift for their significant other. Or, if you’re super single like me, what to send your other single friends to console them during this travesty of a holiday.

Anyway, forget the jewelry, boys, and toss that cologne, ladies, because wine is the best Valentine’s Day gift!

For your husband or wife
Save: A bottle of wine from the year you were married. A nice French bottle is a classic touch, though a bottle from your own area is always fun—wine is made in all 50 U.S. states, and in most regions of the world.
Splurge: A trip to wine country. Like I mentioned above, there are wineries in all the states of the Union. Some are harder to come by (in, say, Alaska), but most states have wine trails, and most countries have wine regions (even India and China, by the way). A day trip is a fun way to spend time together, and a weekend is an excellent way to relax.
Hotels located in or very near wineries are fun. Some suggestions:
Washington—Cave B Inn; Inn at Abeja
California (Santa Rosa)—Vintner’s Inn
Georgia—Chateau Elan
Remember—it still costs less than a tennis bracelet.

For your lover
Save: Reasonably priced sparkling wine. Inexpensive and sexy. I recommend Domaine Ste. Michelle Luxe (about $20).
Splurge: Expensive Champagne. Expensive and sexy. I recommend Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne (about $90). Not only does it have an amazing flavor profile and minerality, it’s also pink.

For your new girlfriend or boyfriend
Save: There’s nothing cozier than a glass of port or sherry in front of a roaring fire. Encourage some snuggling with a bottle of Barnard Griffin 2005 Reserve Syrah Port ($16.99).
Splurge: Make your own wine together at a local crushpad or microwinery. Cleaner and easier than getting a puppy, and an excellent way to bond, crushpads are located in most parts of the U.S. Plus, if you break up, it’s easier to split cases of wine than share doggie custody.
Live in or near San Francisco? Try Crushpad.

For your single friends
Save: A bottle of Mad Housewife, Il Bastardo, or possibly R Winery's Bitch Grenache or Evil Cabernet Sauvignon. Remind them why it’s good to be single sometimes.
Splurge: Personalized bottles from Northwest Cellars in Seattle, WA. Don bottles with a particularly attractive picture of your group of friends, a photo of Matt Damon, or a reminder like “It’s better to go alone than badly accompanied.” The possibilities are endless.