Are You the One?
You are having a special dinner party and need wines to match your menu.
You are going to a party and need the perfect wine for your host. What is a
boy (or girl) to do?
This is easy! Visit your favorite retail shop and speak with the Wine Steward,
Owner or staff.
Now, how do you select the best person to go to for advice? It will take research,
but it is worth the effort.
You can go to any wine retailer and get great recommendations. Wine retailers
know their stuff. They have a passion for wine and have found a way to make
their hobby their livelihood.
Now the bigger question is: “How do I find someone who knows what I need?”
Here is where the real work begins. Finding the perfect match will take time….
time well spent.
The first thing that you will want to do is really define your favorite wines.
Perhaps you love California Cabernet. Maybe it’s Oregon Pinot Gris. Then again,
it may be South American Malbec. Do you prefer “New World” or “Old World” styles?
Once you have an idea of what you prefer, go visit stores and shops. Speak with
the wine expert and let them know what you like in a great wine. Give them a
price range and have them select a wine for you. Take it home. Give it a try.
Did they match your tastes? If they did, great, go back! If they didn’t, go
back! Yes, you heard me correctly. Go back, even if the wine was not what you
were looking for. Let them know that, while the wine was nice, it was not what
you were looking for. Chat with them for a while, again, letting them know what
you prefer. Have them select another wine for you and give it a try.
This is important as, well, miscommunication can happen in the beginning of any
relationship. Once you have found a retailer who knows your tastes, you will be
surprised with the outcome. They will actually contact you will new wine finds.
The next time you visit, they will excitedly tell you about the latest wine in
their shop that fits your fancy!
You will also find that you may have several retailers that can help you out.
You may rely on one to help you select Italian wines, but prefer another to assist
you with Oregon wines. Each wine steward/expert has their favorite areas as well.
This is great as they can really give you expert help in those areas, as well as
fabulous suggestions in other areas too.
This is also true for wine journalists. Some swear by Matt Kramer. Others prefer
Robert Parker. Then there are those who feel that Wine Spectator or Wine
Enthusiast rule. This goes back to the “interview process” for a wine retailer.
You need to really read the advice of the wine journalists. Pick up a few wines
that they recommend. Do they meet up to your expectations?
What does this mean? Does it mean that one reviewer is better than another?
Nope! It simply means that you have the same preferences of one journalist over
another. This is actually great, as now, you can rely on their recommendations to
meet your needs.
There is one really important thing to remember. There is no right or wrong when
it comes to wine. Your favorite wine is the best wine in the world. Everyone is
on a different level when it comes to wine. If you love Grand Cru Burgundy, that
is fabulous. If you love White Zinfandel, that’s fabulous too. The point is, you
are enjoying wine and exploring the ever changing world of wine!
Until next time,
Cheers!
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