Maybe your journey starts like mine.
I’m in a state store (because I live in Pennsylvania so that’s where I shop for wine). Some state stores are small and selection is limited, but I’m in one of the better-stocked premium collection stores.
I’m overwhelmed. So much to choose from. It’s like going to the mall for a pair of socks.
Novice that I am, I step gingerly around the displays. I eyeball the signs skeptically. What does “Wine Spectator 95 Points” even mean?
I know little about this vast and confusing world, but I’m certain of one thing: I love wine – not only because it looks, smells and tastes heavenly, and is amazing with food, though those are reasons enough.
Conceptually, I love that wine starts in the vineyard – with farming, essentially. Sure, I grew up in the ‘burbs, but now I’m one of a rare breed that actually likes the smell of a cow pasture and sitting for hours on cold metal bleachers watching sheep-judging at a county fair.
Wine has its roots (quite literally) in the dirt. In the hands of a skilled winemaker, though, winegrapes can develop into something much more than the sum of their parts. The process is magical, really, and when it succeeds, wine has the potential to express the unique patch of earth it calls home.
So how do I wrap my hands around an over-brimming glass as complex as this? Education, of course, and practice, practice, practice. I’ve heard others say that training the palate is like learning to play the piano or guitar. It’s muscle memory. I believe that.
By the way, I no longer have anxiety attacks walking into a wine superstore. Live in Pennsylvania? Here are my tips on how to overcome your anxiety:
Shop the premium collection stores only – Forget about the little wine stores you find almost everywhere. Even if you have to travel an extra 30 minutes, it’s worth it to seek out these “Fine Wine & Good Spirits” or “PA Wine & Spirits Premium Collection” stores for greater variety.
Head for the Chairman’s Selection® wines – These are the “buys” that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board offers at reduced prices. You can find some decent wines this way.
Check out the wine specialist’s displays – Where I shop, the wine specialist sets up displays in the central aisles of the store. These are wines the store is offering at good prices. That leads me to my next tip.
Befriend the wine specialist – The wine specialist is just that – this person trains, tastes and even travels in a quest to know wine. Befriend this person, or at least get comfortable enough to ask this person your questions. I’d make a habit of shopping at the same store to get to know the wine specialist.
Attend store wine tastings – Does the premium store near you offer free tastings? Go! What a great way to expand your palate and get to know the wine specialist (see above).
What’s great about wine is you can learn and have fun at the same time. Check out my Wine 101 class and contact me!