Wine Appreciation Tips

There's a plethora of books and websites out there, written by an abundance of (sometimes questionable) 'experts' telling you what is, or is not, a good wine, a good vintage or a good brand.

Here's a few tips to help you make informed decisions about wine:

• What is and is not a good year? The truth is no matter how bad a vintage is in any region, there are often pockets within that region that can still produce good wines. So don't write off a whole region just because someone bags a particular vintage!

• Who should you trust? Unfortunately it's getting increasingly difficult to seperate the PR people masquerading as wine aficionados or sommeliers from those who actually know their stuff. Sommeliers and Masters of Wine are highly trained wine experts who spend a lot of time and money perfecting their skills, not simply people who have tasted a lot of wines.

• Don't be intimidated by people who use gobbledygook winespeak. If you read this site, visit the links and commit some of it to memory on a regular basis, you'll probably know more than they do.

• Also be sceptical of people who taste multitudes of wines each week and assume they understand what the average wine drinker is looking for. Listen to them with an open mind. Read tasting notes and appraisals which come from a panel of tasters with varying palates, giving unbiased advice.

• Be your own judge! The best way to perfect your skills, develop your palate, and build your wine repertoire is to get out there and try wines! Discuss them with your friends and work colleagues and read reviews [with an open mind!] in wine magazines. Go to wine classes, wine parties, wine nights at local bottle shops, wine festivals and events in your city.

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