“Where there is no wine, there is no love- Euripides”
As daunting as it is to become a wine expert, there are many people who are still confused between oenophile, connoisseur, and sommelier. Well, let me clarify; you drink wine with an oenophile, you discuss wine with a connoisseur and you buy wine from a sommelier! Simple as that!
There’s always that friend who, with the swirl of a wine glass, will leave you awestruck of their sophisticated wine skills. If you want to be that friend, then this blog is totally apt for you!
Here are some points that will help you become a wine expert:
• Start with the basics
Buy wine from the local grocery store or the local wine shop. Taste it and know the difference. You will develop your palate to differentiate between the good and bad taste. Make sure that every wine you taste you swish around in your mouth instead of gulping it directly to the back of your throat. You will soon develop your palate to taste flavor nuances.
• Learn the terminologies
Take some time to learn some basic wine terminology, it helps in understanding terms such as ‘tannins’ and ‘terroir.’ Remove the unfamiliar terms barrier by learning from the knowledgeable ones.
• Pairing food and wine
Order for a glass of wine, rather than the bottle. Wine can impact the flavor of food, and it will allow you to taste different wines with different dishes. You will start to learn combining food with wine, such as white wine, and shellfish enhance each other. You will find that some combinations when taken with food is just perfect! It always helps when you are organizing a party.
• Lookout for your new favorites
If you feel in love with a wine and it’s not available, try to look out for the newest available on the market. Find new wine experiences, read the labels, the stories about each wine and more. It might look discouraging but know you are in for an excellent time. Wineries always welcome new wine experts to know more about their wines.
• Sit down and read a book
Pick up a book about wines and read about it! Read till you understand everything about wine and the making of wine in different countries. This will give you a better understanding of the quality of wines and appreciate their taste.
• Taking risks
Taste as much as the variety of wines you can. It helps to develop your taste buds to the wines, buy the cheapest and the expensive wines and differentiate their taste. Step out of your comfort zone and try the newest wines!
Your journey to becoming a connoisseur has just begun! Take a class to know more!
