5 Fun Ways to Learn More About Wine

Some serious wine connoisseurs out there would swear by the duties of getting to know the different regions wines are produced, the various grapes from which they are made, and the various tasting methods and terms to describe the flavor of all the above. In all fairness, there is some validity to these notions! You could probably learn much from a pocket-sized book from your local bookstore. Hey, that's not necessarily a bad idea either. But, if you really want to enjoy learning about wine, here are five fine ways to have fun doing it. These are informal settings and, certainly, minus all intimidation:

1) Visit a winery while on vacation or even closer to your home. Not everyone can go to France, Italy, or Spain to tour an exquisite vineyard and winery, but you can do this. In this relaxed environment, you can learn about wine and taste the qualities the experts speak to you about. You are much more likely to remember wines you have actually tasted than those you were just told about. And, guess what? You will actually know if you really like it or if it's just someone else's idea of what you should like.

2) Go to local places where wide varieties of wine are sold which offer tastings for free or for a small fee. Often, this will be attended to by someone who is very knowledgeable and more than willing to share their expertise. Usually, there will be several varieties featured, such as merlot, zinfandel, chardonnay, Reisling, and Grenache. They may have cheese and crackers also; sometimes not just to neutralize your palate but really nice ones, even teachiing you how to pair them with certain wines! You may taste! Now remember that tasting should be to find out what taste good to you. If you like it, it's a good wine for you! If you don't, it's not! That is a simple rule that cuts to the chase! After trying the different varieties, you may choose to buy a featured wine or not. No strings. They can usually tell you more about other wines you may be considering also.

3) Invite friends over for wine tasting. This is another way to learn more about wine and have pleasure on the learning curve. Ask each of them to bring a wine choice for tasting party. Ask them what kind they will bring. Then you can fill in with a few...maybe a crisp white light to start and a sweet dessert wine to end. You could go from light to heavy (alcohol % content), serving maybe 6-8 different wines.Get help with your choices, if needed. Hey, one of the best pieces of advice I ever got was simply this: If you don't know what you are doing, ask somebody! Have a few cheeses available. Make your favorite party dish. Maybe a few friends can do the same. Give each one a card to make notes of what they liked and did not like. By all means, have great music playing in the background. Enjoy a relaxed time with friends while you all express your your taste in the wines sampled.

4) Go to a wine festival! They often have food, music, and people who are in a great mood! You may have one in your hometown or you may travel to one. This is a fantastic way to sample a variety of wines. Sometimes they are region oriented, but that's okay too! You are still likely to find a good variety and something to suit your palate. One time I tried a "chocolate zinfandel" at a wine festival. No, really I did! I just wish it was the last one I tried that day because it was definitely a dessert wine! Try whatever you want. Buy whatever you like!

5) Join or start a wine club. Sometimes commercial clubs or wineries feature different wines each month. You pay a monthly/quarterly/annual fee and are shipped a featured bottle or 2, or even a case of wine each month. They will often classify these simply red, white, or mixed. You choose. That's a great way to try different wines! If you have a wine club with friends, you can feature one or two each month with friends. Share the flavor. Share the expense. Most of all, share the good times together! You may not advance to sommelier with these suggestions, but you will have fun learning what choices to make. No matter what you do; have fun with it, and enjoy the experience as you grow in what you know about this awesome fruit of the vine!