Purchasing 101

Between a multitude of languages, different labeling laws in different countries, and the use of terms that may or may not be legally defined can lead to a lot of confusion when it comes time to select a bottle of wine. The single best west to overcome the intimidation felt by most when purchasing wine is to spend years tasting and learning about all of the different regions. By no means do I want to discourage those that find this exciting, however it is simply far more than the average wine consumer needs to tackle. If you follow a few simple guidelines you’ll be able to drink like the most experienced sommelier.

1. Keep an open mind.

   If you think you only like California Chardonnay or French Pinot Noir, you’re missing out on a lot of terrific wine that you’ll love. Keep an open mind when taking recommendations from friends, the waiter at your favorite restaurant, or the local merchant. If you can’t pronounce the name of the grape, or haven’t heard of Macedonian wine (or have even heard of Macedonia for that matter) don’t fear. You just might discover a new favorite wine and your next summer travel destination!

2. There are no stupid questions.

   Seriously. When it comes to learning about wine don’t be afraid to ask questions, no matter how silly or basic you feel they may be. I guarantee you that: A) Someone else in the room has the same question, and B) There has existed a time in every wine-lover’s and winemaker’s life when they didn’t know the difference between Burgundy and Bordeaux or if Chardonnay was red or white.

3. Shop small.

   If you buy your wine at large chain grocery or liquor stores, stop. What you’ll save in time and dollars comes at the price of quality and experience. Generally speaking, large liquor stores and grocery chains purchase from just one or two large distributors and only stock wines that are available at all of their locations nationally, relying on large production wines. Furthermore, the staff typically don’t know any more about wine that you do!

   Instead, find a great bottle shop near you that specializes in wines and has an educated staff that relies on their own expertise to stock the shelves and is able to give you more personalized recommendations. Build a relationship with this shop and you’ll reap the rewards for years to come. And remember, keep and open mind and try what they recommend even if it is something that you normally wouldn’t…

4. Take reviews & ratings with a hefty pinch of salt.

   Wine ratings and scores are an attractive way for wineries and shops to easily convey quality and sell wines. The only problem is that these scores are completely arbitrary, representing the interaction between a single person and a single bottle of wine at a specific point in time. You wouldn’t select a restaurant or hotel based on one individual’s ten-year-old review, would you? How do you even know if the critic who scored the wine knows what he or she is talking about? Anyone can start a blog rating wine or hand out gold medals at a competition of their own creating. While ratings, medals, and scores can be a useful base line by which to judge wines, I’d recommend sticking to the most popular, widely read publications. A few of my favorites are listed below, but there are many more that offer terrific, regionally-focused insight. Remember, the best person to tell you if a wine is good or amazing, or not, is YOU!

   • Wine Spectator

   • Wine Enthusiast

   • Decanter

   • Vinous

   • Wine Advocate

And, as always, if you have ANY questions or are looking for more personalized guidance on purchasing wine, don’t hesitate to reach out!