The First Thing to Know About Premium Wines

If you only want to know one thing about wine it's that there is no one right answer.

Why bring this up? Whether you're shopping for clothes, a TV, or a car there are always lots of different opinions and you probably know there is no one answer that fits everybody. Why do folks thing wine is sometimes different?

It may be because there's this whole mystery / complexity surrounding the fine wine world. You have master sommeliers, judges, writers, and all these other experts that know more than you. Well, just because someone knows the difference between malolactic fermentation and negociant doesn't mean they are any better at picking out wine than you are.

When someone is car shopping they might read online review from automotive writers, they'll look at the manufacturer's website, they'll ask friends who they think are car nuts. When it comes to wine many often aren't sure where to start when really it's done the same way as car shopping.

I've taken a few wine classes at a local college plus participated in group tastings and there are many people who are unsure of their own taste buds when asked about a wine in this surrounding. It's because they feel there are people listening who know more than they do. Yep, they might know more about making wine or read every wine magazine there is, but they don't know you. That is, you are already an expert wine taster for you. You don't need somebody to train you in how one wine is better than the next. You can be taught to think about why you might like one wine better than another.

Don't be shy. Like what you like and let the critics be damned. Yeah, now and then I'm critical of certain wine types and styles, but that doesn't mean I know jack when it comes to what you want to throw your hard-earned money at.

This doesn't mean your tastes won't change over time just like your tastes in cars will change from when you're 18 to when you're 70. It just needs to be based on what you've discovered along the way and, of course, what you can afford.

Okay, let's all go buy some wine, open 'er up and enjoy!