Many wine lovers spend a lifetime drinking wine but never learn much about it. They make safe purchases at wine stores, often sticking with the same two or three familiar types. The process of getting a wine education is not only a fun undertaking, but can open a whole new world in wine drinking. Never take an inferior bottle to a dinner party again.
Club Wines Provide Affordable Diversity
There are many wine clubs these days, and for good reason. Join a wine club and, for a reasonable fee, two or three different bottles of wine will be delivered every month, along with a short lesson about the wine. Club wines are a great way to bring some diversity into the learning process without breaking the wine budget. Who hasn't been frustrated by buying an expensive bottle of wine that did not meet their expectations? With club wines, the monthly experiment is always at the same reasonable price.
California Wine and Other New World Wines
Another easy learning technique is to pick a region and become familiar with the wines from that area. Wine stores are frequently organized this way, so it makes shopping for wine much more simple. California wine is plentiful, often affordable, and delicious. Wineries in the United States and other countries that are outside the traditional European wine-growing regions are referred to as new world wines. Start in the United States by sampling bottles from California, Virginia and Oregon.
Wine Tours and Tastings
Wine tours are popular, fun outings that often involve a limousine and driver. Typically, a selection of wineries in a region is decided upon, and the tasting starts at the first winery. Wine is often purchased and opened in the car, continuing the sampling between wineries as well. While wine tours are great fun, don't rely upon them as a means of education. All that revelry tends to get in the way of actual learning as bottles are consumed before labels can even be recorded. Enjoy, but stick to other methods for learning.
Wine Gift Basket and Hostess Gifts
In addition to drinking better wine, another benefit of getting a wine education is being able to give gifts with confidence. A wine gift basket, complete with good cheese and biscuits, is a great gift for a new homeowner whose first meal in a new house will probably be enjoyed around unpacked boxes. Include a book about wine as an extra surprise and a way of spreading knowledge. Taking a bottle of wine as a hostess gift will be elevated beyond the ordinary when the selection is well made.
Summary
Learning about wine is a gift that keeps giving, both to the student and the people close by who will also benefit from the education. Club wines are an affordable way to try a variety of wines, and wine tours are best saved for fun outings rather than a means of learning. Getting an education is the best way to start enjoying a better wine-drinking experience.
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