How to Taste and Buy Wine
Paul Masters
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"Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used."
-William Shakespeare, Othello, II. iii. (315)
How to Taste Wine: A Beginner's Guide
Of all the world's beverages, few carry the historical, symbolic, or sensual qualities of wine. Wise is produced around the globe in a dizzying variety of styles, using hundreds of grapes, and with vastly differing quality. 
To the uninitiated, the world of wine can seem complicated, snobbish, and elite. Winemakers and connoisseurs often use a variety of technical terms to describe wine's flavors, the land the grapes were grown on, and the processes used to make the wine. To most people not involved in the wine/food industry, much of this information is unimportant. However, there are some simple tips that you can use to enhance your enjoyment and experience of wine without having to become an expert. I will start by discussing the best way of tasting wine, and end with notes about wine buying.
Tasting Wine
Tasting wine is a slow and experiential process that uses all of the senses. Appreciating a wine's merits (or demerits) is a task that cannot be completed in a matter of seconds, or in a single sip. Wine is something that can best be called a "slow food," or a food that takes time and patience to prepare and enjoy. In our fast-paced and hectic lifestyles, it is very easy to forget to slow down sometimes and enjoy some of nature's finer creations. Wine is certainly one of these. Before you begin to taste, try to clear your head and slow down. This will make a big difference to your tasting experience.
-William Shakespeare, Othello, II. iii. (315)
How to Taste Wine: A Beginner's Guide
Of all the world's beverages, few carry the historical, symbolic, or sensual qualities of wine. Wise is produced around the globe in a dizzying variety of styles, using hundreds of grapes, and with vastly differing quality.
To the uninitiated, the world of wine can seem complicated, snobbish, and elite. Winemakers and connoisseurs often use a variety of technical terms to describe wine's flavors, the land the grapes were grown on, and the processes used to make the wine. To most people not involved in the wine/food industry, much of this information is unimportant. However, there are some simple tips that you can use to enhance your enjoyment and experience of wine without having to become an expert. I will start by discussing the best way of tasting wine, and end with notes about wine buying.
Tasting Wine
Tasting wine is a slow and experiential process that uses all of the senses. Appreciating a wine's merits (or demerits) is a task that cannot be completed in a matter of seconds, or in a single sip. Wine is something that can best be called a "slow food," or a food that takes time and patience to prepare and enjoy. In our fast-paced and hectic lifestyles, it is very easy to forget to slow down sometimes and enjoy some of nature's finer creations. Wine is certainly one of these. Before you begin to taste, try to clear your head and slow down. This will make a big difference to your tasting experience.