Wine 101

Wine is one of the things that best sums up my philosophy of life. It appeals to all the senses, can create wonderful memories, and can really be quite simple to enjoy. We've heard too many stories about wine snobs...it's not rocket science. If I can do it, so can you.

If you take the time to truly experience a glass of wine, you have to use all your senses. First, you see it. Hold it against something white and notice the color. It's not just red or white; notice that it's the color of a blackberry or a peach or your sister's blond hair. Swirl it around and see how it clings to the glass. Does it cascade down quickly or slowly drip its way back down the glass?

Next, smell. Stick your nose way down in the glass and breathe in. What does it remind you of? Grass? Pineapple? Leather? Plum? (And, yes, those are all quite acceptable terms to use.)

Now we're ready to taste. Take a sip and let it touch every corner of your mouth. Different parts of our mouths taste different things (salty, sour, etc.) and to take it all in, you'll need it to let the wine coat all the way around. Think about what you're tasting. Strawberry? Toast? Melon? Cinnamon? What? Like the aroma, put in terms YOU understand...not what you think some master sommelier or snooty wine snob would use. If it tastes like grape jam to you, fine. If it smells like buttered popcorn, OK too.

The important thing is, as you sense things in the wine, to develop a vocabulary that works for you. You need to determine what you like and why you like it. And it never hurts to write it down. On a note card, jot down the name of the wine and what you smell and taste. It will help you to remember and hone your instincts. Then, as you broaden your horizons and try new wines, you have a way to talk about it to folks at the wine store or your waiter at the restaurant. I once said that I wanted a "grassy" white wine, and was introduced to a New Zealand sauvignon blanc that is one of my favorite house wines.

Of course, as you sip, , in addition to taste, you'll also feel the wine's texture. I really like the way master sommelier Andrea Immer Robinson describes it. Is it skim milk or heavy cream? Smooth satin or plush velvet? Pay attention. To be a true wino, you have to experience it all. later, as you start trying to pair wines with certain foods, this is a crucial component.

Then, there's the sound. The sound your glass makes as you toast a friend, partner, or family members. I am proud to have taught "Cheers" to my youngest niece and nephew before they were two. It started with sippy cups and I look forward to clinking glasses with them long into the future.

So, that's the Wine 101 lesson for today. EXPERIENCE the wine. (How very Zen.) If you pay attention (and we don't often pay nearly enough attention to many of the sensory things around us), you'll start to develop a vocabulary of wine that describes to yourself and others what you like and don't like. Once you've developed the basics of that, you're ready to apply it to new, more adventurous wine experiences. Try it with your next glass (or bottle!) of wine. In a week or so, I'll talk more about how you can take that vocabulary and start to appreciate things in wine you never thought you would.

Cheers!