2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
Love of wine is not something to be ashamed of. The idea of this drink as an expensive, exquisite and extremely refined pleasure is also wrong. It is very simple to love wine, and everyone can learn to understand it so that the wallet remains full and the nose does not lift up to heaven.
Wine connoisseurs are often called snobs. And this is understandable: terminology and foreign names make a beginner at least dumbfounded. Wine critics and serious sommeliers who pompously talk about the sun playing in the glass don't make an easy start either. And there are also many prejudices that only push away from buying an interesting bottle: French wines are good, but domestic ones are not, the cork is good, and the glass or synthetic is bad …
Does the world of wine require all these conventions and complexities? We decided to figure out how to start loving wine and at the same time remain ourselves.
Taste wine and remember what you like
If you are already interested in wine, this step is easy. Just try more varieties! Buy wines from all over the world, of all types and varieties.
Just try to explore the shelves of the supermarket. Buy Pinot Noir and then Cabernet Sauvignon. Then - chardonnay or pinot gris. The fact is that they all differ not only in taste, but also in aroma. Even if the color of some types of wine seems to you the same.
This simple step will help you quickly understand the characteristic notes of the varieties and learn how to associate a specific aroma with the name of the wine. You will also understand which wines you like and which ones taste bad.
Thanks to such a short course, you will be able to avoid radical judgments like "I only drink red / white wines", because it is at least silly to say that.
Too many people deny themselves the pleasure of tasting fine red or white wine simply because they don't like one of the varieties.
When you taste the wine and realize that this glass was especially good, make a note of it. Keep a diary (in a notebook or using a special application). Write down your impressions of each type of wine, note why you liked or disliked drinking it.
One of the most beautiful and well-known wine notepads, the Moleskine Wine Journal, is available both as a traditional edition and as a smartphone app.
And do not rush to run to the store, buy everything you see, and arrange a massive tasting. Better to take your time. You have to learn a lot about yourself and your preferences. Be mindful of your own feelings and explore the flavor of each variety in detail. For example, if you liked Riesling, buy a few more bottles of this wine, only now - from other parts of the world.
Find adequate reviews
All of this research on tastes can be exhausting - for both you and your wallet. Unfortunately, the money for the disgusting wine will not be returned to you.
You need to find like-minded people who, like you, are just starting their journey into the world of wine.
Or find those who can talk about wine without pathos and bombast. You need reviews and stories about the wine that interests you. To make it easier for you, we suggest using mobile applications and online services. The difficulty lies in the fact that many of these tools remain in English.
One of the most famous wine encyclopedias, unfortunately, is only available in English. But on the other hand, it is conveniently organized and provides a detailed and simple guide to wine for beginners.
The Vivino app is one of the most effective for a beginner. In order to find out reviews about a particular wine, you just need to take a photo of the label or enter the name manually. Even if the application is in English, it contains a lot of popular Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian wines along with rare and unknown varieties.
For a basic knowledge of flavors and varieties, refer to books. Simple and straightforward, they will help you navigate the world of wines. Start with Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson's Wine. The World Atlas of Wine. To further explore the topic, try reading Le Vin en 80 questions by Pierre Casamayor. If you want to understand why this or that wine is called this way, and not otherwise, open “Wine. Oz Clarke’s Introducing Wine: A Complete Guide for the Modern Wine Drinker by Oz Clarke. This work examines in detail the origin of the most famous varieties, geography and flavor characteristics of classic wines.
All these steps will help you find a theoretical basis for your own searches, as well as reduce the cost of a new hobby.
Buy only wine you can afford
Speaking of costs, by the way. The best way to avoid snobbery is to simply refrain from it with all your might. You shouldn't be constantly chatting about those expensive and fine wines that you managed to get hold of. Instead of talking, bring a couple of bottles of good, inexpensive wine for your birthday or party. Your recommendation will be worth more than all the tales of wine.
Any hobby, including those related to wine, should be a pleasure. What you like may not be liked by another. The aroma you pick up in the glass may not be obvious to your companion. If he is not inclined to discuss the intricacies of the drink, you should not insist on this.
Save your impressions and notes for the audience who will appreciate it, and tell your friend about your favorite variety. And that's enough.
The same goes for the cost of wine. There is no way that the cost of a wine will guarantee you its great taste and aroma. There are penny wines that will surprise you. And no one guarantees that an expensive bottle will fill your glass with a delicious and delicate drink. Judging wine by its price is simply stupid, and even more so, you shouldn't waste your last savings on the drink.
Wine is a wonderful world worth getting you started on your journey. Your goal is to get around all the barriers built by the so-called wine connoisseurs, and learn to trust yourself and your feelings.
Taste and enjoy the variety of colors and flavors in the glass. That's all you need to pay attention to.
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