When you’ve been on the scene for 8,000 years it’s no surprise you’ll have a reputation that precedes you. Along the way this simple beverage made from grapes and yeast has often been misunderstood. From its humble beginnings as a means to avoid unsafe drinking water, wine has become associated with elitism and I'm on a mission to bring it back down to earth. This misconception has made wine intimidating and in turn we drink less of it. Wine doesn’t need to be expensive or confined to white tablecloth restaurants. It’s now more accessible than ever on tap at music festivals and in cans on the beach, so what’s keeping us tied to our tired beer and cocktail orders when the world of wine is wild, wide, and welcoming us with open arms?
We’re confident in our taste when it comes to food, clothing, and music, so why are we afraid to assert it with wine? The paradox of choice is at play and the overwhelming amount of options and information can leave us feeling like we’ve picked the wrong one. At the end of the day we use libations to relax and celebrate (while also spending our hard-earned cash on them) so it’s absolutely worth figuring out how to pick wine you love.
As a wine professional, certified by the American Sommelier Association in New York City and WSET in London, I’ve been living abroad for the past 6 years and have traveled to 28 countries learning about wine from different perspectives. My passion is keeping wine cool and inclusive through easy wine tips that help everyone find their perfect wine. Consider this article a jump-start to your next exciting wine discovery!
The power of 3S
You don’t need to be a wine pro to look like one
Stem (hold your glass by the stem to keep the liquid at an ideal drinking temperature)
Swirl (because who doesn’t look sexy executing a smooth swish?)
Sniff (roughly 75-95 % of what we think of as taste actually comes from smell)
Champion versatility
Long gone are the days of choosing between white or red. There’s a time, place, and mood for everything, and embracing wine in its multi-faceted glory shows your adventurous side. This also goes for food pairing, plenty of full-bodied whites can hold up to BBQ, and the same goes for light, chilled reds that are divine with veggies and seafood.
Don’t let pronunciation throw you off your game
Grapes like Viognier (VEE-own-YAY) & Gewürztraminer (geh-VURTZ-tra-MEEN-er) are tough, but don’t let that deter you from trying something new. Wine selections are typically broken out by white/red - start with there, pick out one or two other descriptors from the list or label, and engage your salesperson or server by simply pointing and describing what you can pronounce.
“I see you have this French, white, wine with a clean finish, how would that go with a seafood pasta?”
Order Orange
Orange you glad you’ll be on top of this trend popping up on wine lists everywhere?! Its well-known cousin Rosé is made from red grapes, and Orange is made in the exact same way, but with white grapes.
Orange wines can be reminiscent of beverages like sour beers, ciders, or kombucha, making them a great choice if you’re not a huge fan of traditional wine.
Check out this video via modern_wine to learn more
Geography 101 the most famous wine region - Bordeaux
Red wine from Bordeaux is split into two areas, the ‘Right Bank’ and the ‘Left Bank’. Wines from the Right Bank typically have a higher percentage of Merlot, and wines from the Left Bank contain more Cabernet Sauvignon. If you’re craving something smooth and velvety, with red-fruit flavors, turn Right. Head Left if you want something fuller bodied, black-fruit forward, with more grippy, tongue-drying goodness (tannins).
Label decoding
Wines from the ‘New World’ (North & South America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa) will list the grape(s) they’re made from.
Alternatively, wines from Europe, or the ‘Old World’, will typically list the region they come from instead of the grape(s).
You don’t need to learn every grape:region mapping, but it will set you up for success in understanding what you’re buying. Some popular mappings:
Burgundy = Pinot Noir or Chardonnay
Rioja = Tempranillo
Sancerre = Sauvignon Blanc
Unlock the ‘sweet’ v ‘dry’ key with ABV
Most people prefer dry wine but how do you know what you’re in for by the bottle or list alone? The answer is much more logical than you’d think and comes down to science and math.
Yeast eats sugar and produces CO2 & Alcohol. The higher the Alcohol By Volume (ABV), the more sugar those yeast babies have gotten rid of. Higher ABV = less sugar = drier wine.*
*does not apply to fortified and dessert wines
Body-ody-ody
To understand the body (or fullness) of a wine, I like to use this simple analogy:
When you hold the wine in your mouth, does it feel like you’ve taken a gulp of full fat milk? - That’s full bodied baby! (Malbec, Chenin Blanc)
Does it feel more like skim milk? You’re looking at a medium bodied wine, some of the most versatile and drinkable around. (Merlot, Pinot Gris)
Feel like you're holding a sip of water in your mouth? Light-bodied wines need love too, and are ideal if you’re looking for something to drink sans food. (Beaujolais, Albariño)
Come at wine sideways
No, I’m not talking about the 2004 cult classic film - but you certainly could! Whether you're a history buff, cinephile, or music fanatic, wine has played a role in something you’re already an expert on. Draw those connections, and you’re guaranteed to start up stimulating conversation.
Les Claypool, best known as the founder, lead singer, bassist, and songwriter of the band Primus (although I really dig his side projects like Oysterhead and The Claypool Lennon Delirium) makes incredible wine in Sebastopol, California. Purple Pachyderm specializes in Pinot Noir made from the iconic Russian River Valley Grapes. Their transcendent, quirky spot, Pachyderm Station, is one of the most memorable tasting room experiences I had during my most recent visit to Sonoma. If you’re lucky enough to go on the weekend you can even pair your Pinot with a delicious Whamola Weiner created by Les! 🌭🍷
Bubbles demystified
It can be common for people to refer to all types of sparkling wine as “Champagne”, but most of us are drinking a different style of bubbly. Get familiar with the basics and find your signature sparkler.
Prosecco
🍇 Glera
📍 NW Italy
👄 Bright citrus, green apple, floral aromas - light and fruity
Cava
🍇 Macabeu, Parellada, Xarel-lo
📍 Spain
👄 The middle of the road between fruit-forward Prosecco and drier Champagne
Crémant
🍇 Many
📍 8 regions in France (excluding Champagne)
👄 Crémant is made in the same style as Champagne, making it the next best thing at a fraction of the cost!
I hope these tips have been fun and help you on your quest to find more wines that make your mouth dance and your soul smile. Please leave any comments or questions below, and I’ll see you in your inbox soon! - xx L
Very informative post Lucy. Thanks for sharing!