I am worried for when I get older on chosing wines. But for later adult years, who do I not embarras myself?

Question

I see my parents whose wine and taste it and know which one excatly is this. How do they do that. And how do I know what to get so when I am older I can look smart winelike. And don't answer "it just comes along" because that is bullshit.

Answer 1

Its simple...DO NOT DRINK!!

Answer 2

Your parents will probably be your best source of information on this because they know about it. It honestly just comes with practice. I started learning about wines from my grandfather when I was 3 years old (collective gasp here) and he taught me a lot of what I know now.

When you are old enough (if you aren't already), look for a wine tasting club in your area. They are not all pretentious, uptight people like what you would see on Frasier but can actually be a lot of fun and you will definitely learn something.

Also, there are a wide variety of books out there that you can read. There are easy one's like Wine for Dummies and then there are ones that go into a lot more detail. My favourites wine books are:

A Pocket Guide to Ontario Wines, Wineries, Vineyards & Vines
by Konrad Ejbich

Grossman's Guide to Wines, Beers & Spirits, Seventh Edition
Revised by Harriet Lembeck

The Encyclopedic Atlas of Wine
Various writers

All three of these are valuable sources of information. If you approach this as a learning experience, you will eventually get to the same level as your parents. It really is just a matter of practice and experience. Obviously, when I was 3 and just learning is no where near the level I am now that I'm almost 30 and doing this for a living.

One thing that I can tell that has helped me a lot figure out what it is I'm tasting is by tasting a lot of different kinds of foods because you will find that the more variety of flavours you have when you eat, you will be able to pick up on those flavours much more easily when you drink a wine that shares the exact same flavours. For example, some red wines have an earthy, green pepper, herbal flavour and if you have a lot of herbs or fresh veggies in your food, you'll recognize it when you drink the wine. The same goes for chocolate because some red wines have chocolate tastes and smells to them.

With white wines, it's fresh fruit and flowers and minerals. Try as many varieties of fruits as you can and "stop and smell the roses" - literally - and any other kind of flower you see on your way to school or the mall.

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, check out this website and send this person an e-mail.

Answer 3

An easyone is that white wines go with "white meats" and light pasta. Redwine goes with red meat and red pasta. Since red wine has a stronger taste, it's used to balance/enhance stronger tastes such as a spicy chili. Sometimes other people have done all that work of matching foods with the best complementary wine so you don't have to do all that expensive trial and error. there are wine books you can pick up that give you a good background knowledge. Then when you're of age you can take winery tours that will help you create a knowledge of what's described in books. Also white wine is generally served chilled while red wines are generally served at room temp. Then there are all kinds of in between wines. A great one to start off is a zinfandel. It's good with fruit and cheeses. It can vary in the amount of sugary sweetness versus tart. Those flavors are brought out stronger as you snack on fruit and cheese. It's a great experience. Getting smart winelike means also having an interest when wine is being served. Asking the server what they might recommend with a particular dish helps you see what goes with what. and stay away from fortified wines because they're not really so much meant for savoring but just for getting a buzz. A good starter red might be something like a robert mondavi. their about 7-9 bucks. a good starter white would be a st. jean about the same price. ...

Answer 4

If or when you are old enough (of course) try to visit some wineries. Most wineries have free tasting so you can find what you like. When I first started drinking wine, I preferred sweet and blush type wines, but as I've grown older I've gotten to enjoy semi-sweet to semi-dry wines more and more. I think your taste changes with age. I'm sure your parents have had experience in trying different types and they know what kind of wine to order now.

Answer 5

Your parents have probably been trying different wines all their life. Have you thought about asking them to help you learn the nueances of wine tasting?? Another Idea is to go to the wine tasting get togethers to learn the different types of wine. There are also alot of good books and a few magazines on the subject. Another idea is to keep an eye on the yearly awards presented to the different wineries.

Answer 6

You have to try them to be able to learn about them - sorry if you think that's BS. You can't describe chow mein, a BMW's braking distance, a turbulant flight, unless you've experienced it. As far as finding the words, try going to wine tastings at local wine shops. They will help you learn about what the different tastes and varietals are.

Another thing to do would be to use the wine spectator top picks. They are available for free on their website. They start at under $15 - so buy a bottle and chare it with a friend and compare the tasting notes of WS to what you are tasting.

Good luck to you. : )

Answer 7

taste is a memory, only by contiunal learning of a particular taste sensation (ie; a certain wine) can the brain memorise this sensation. just as if you were blindfolded and given three bannanas to eat 1 green, 1 ripe, and 1 overripe. you would without seeing them determine which is which. This is a learned response. So educate your memory by experiencing different tastes whether wine or food. after you have blind tasted the wine then read what variety and region it was grown. after a while you will recognise varietal characteristics and regional influences and impress your friends with your knowledge. hope you enjoy the experience of wine and dont become a wine tosser though.

Answer 8

Well I used to drink any old wine, started with sweet but then gradually moved on as people offered me better wines. You do get to know the different tastes and find what you like and don't like as your palette becomes more accustomed to the different flavours.

Most people won't be worred if you don't know which wine to order, I often go with a house wine with a meal, saves time studying the wine list and you can usually guarantee it will be pretty unoffensive.

Answer 9

Here's the best strategy I can think of, and fun, to boot.

Find a local restaurant that has a nice variety of wines (I'm not talking about TGIFriday's or Olive Garden...I mean someplace nice).

Go in and sit down at the bar, and tell them you want to come once a week, and try one new glass of wine on every visit.

Trust me when I say you'll find a bartender who loves wine, and is proud to walk you through. You'll know what's going on in no time at all.

Of course, if you're not 21 yet, you might have to rely on your parents for a weekly tasting.....

Answer 10

you will have plenty of time, its down to a matter of your taste and preference, and trial and error, when i first started drinking wine i bought a dessert wine... it was sooo vile and sweet, don't go down the lambrini road, ul never have an appreciation for wine that way. I'm currently going through a blossom hill, white zinfandel stage, it makes for very good drinking, but if u like red wine try a nice Shiraz, if u spend bout £4+ a bottle it should be an OK wine, but u will have to see what u like, you wouldn't expect me to tell u what music channel to watch would u?

Answer 11

There are better things to learn and become an expert on.

Go to a winery/vineyard, do the testing/tour, choose your favorites and stick with it. There are SO many different wines to choose from. There are 18 wineries in my state and it's a tobacco going state!!