Do you remember when was the last time you tried to learn something new?
Say a new language, a new skill?
I’m pretty sure you didn’t master your German over an evening, neither became a “giving effective feedback” guru by only reading one book!
If you are like me, let’s say normal, you do have a thing on getting deeper in what you like. Understanding, exploring further and, of course, adding resourceful insights in the conversation when this topic arises. Say no more, cause it’s the same thing with wine. Once you make this truthful acceptance to yourself that you looove wine, then starts the roller coaster in trying to learn about wine and therefore enjoy your favourite drink even more.
How do you learn more about wine?
Like in everything else, you simply need to get into it. Wine is a whole life by itself so the easy part is that no-one will judge you if you don’t know everything; it’s not easily possible.
But getting started actually means you’re half way there, and I’ll give you a quick guide on where to start first.
Keep a record of what you’re drinking
There are plenty of mobile applications where you can easily scan the label or barcode of your wine bottle and get an incredible amount of information; the grape varieties, the winemaker, the country, the region, the tasting profile and reviews from other, normal people like you, that have tried the same wine.
Drink with others
Form a tasting group with wine aficionados and engage into tasting. That’s the best way to learn about wine. Talk about the bottles you try. What do they taste? Search about the producers and their winemaking techniques. What is the house style that is more likely to find in most of their production? Any specific characteristic you can pick up regarding the vintage or the region?
I cannot stretch enough the importance of sharing wine with others and when you are at the stage of learning, which should be continuous, look at it as a study group. Yea, I think it works… I’m not drinking, I’m studying with my peers!
Attend short wine classes
Either in the form of tasting and education or simply educational (that for sure will combine a few sips of something), you can get so much benefit into your learning about wine process. I have found myself getting so much value out of courses, that, as a natural geek, information will start coming up my mind while tasting. Let’s see… Pinor Noir should give me some cherries and strawberries. Do I get these aromas, or were they bluffing with me in the course?
Taste side by side
Side by side tastings can give you so many answers. What differences can you spot on the same wine of different vintages? Same grape from a New World producer vs an Old World producer, what should you expect the next time you try this grape? Can you identify what is it that makes a full body vs a light body wine? How does it feel? The burning sensation of the 14% vs the 12% Abv? Tasting will always be the best way to learn and bringing these comparative games on the table will definitely add more to your wine knowledge.
Read wine books
That’s one of my favourite! There are so many incredible wine books in the market, that either you wanna learn about winemaking, regions, climate, combination of all, whatever you may please, you’ve got it ready for you. What I like to do, is when I get a new wine, I open my books and do a combined reading of what they have to say about this specific region. What affects the climate and growing process, maybe even the regional regulations that could clarify the quality. The World Atlas of Wine by the world’s famous Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson is the go-to bible that combines all the information you need and makes an amazing coffee table book! WineFolly has also a magnum edition of a Master Guide that explains in the most comprehensive way the secrets of wine.
Secrets! I cannot believe I fell into this trap and used this word! Pfff
Visit wineries
Again, you’ll see progress in your knowledge, the more you’re engaging with the subject of matter. In this case, the more you drink. Visiting wineries is not only a great experience close to nature, an amazing Sunday morning, but also a very good way to actually hear a word or two by the people who create the product you most love. Let the winery people guide you through their wines, listen to their stories and keep taking notes. It’s a unique way as well to learn about geography that eventually plays such a determinant role in the final wine. Once you feel that cold breeze of San Pablo bay, you’ll remember for life that it is actually possible for those grapes not to get exhausted by the Californian heat.
Be a local in a wine bar
When a friend started working at Starbucks, I had literally tried every single weird version of Mocha Coconut Frappuccinos and Lattes and cookies and I don’t know what else. Whenever I would go there during her shift, I was feeling like in an experiment. I liked it cause I was young and I would not gain weight easily, so why not. I figured it actually works the same way with wine bars. The sommelier or the bartender will be happy to introduce you to their older and newer bottles, usually followed by a nice story, and there’s no better way to learn.
Bottom line once again is that progress comes through drinking. Looking for and tasting the classics will always be the best way to start, and then things will flow gradually to forming your confidence in wine knowledge.