So Much Wine: So Little Time!

Buying wine can be more than a little intimidating.  I am sure all of us have stood dumbfounded in front of a supermarket shelf full of dozens of wines.  How are we supposed to know what wine will meet our needs?  The short answer is:  You can't know.

What to do?  Start with relaxing.  You have to acknowledge that there will be a certain percentage of wines that will not turn out to be what you had hoped for.  Keep in mind that there are 365 days in a year and you are bound to discover more than a few "keepers" in the lot.  This is part of the fun.

As it is impossible to know all the various wineries represented on those shelves, I suggest that you start with a grape varietal in mind.  Say you have a hankering for a cabernet sauvignon.  This will narrow your selection.  Next, consider the region.  Perhaps you've heard that Chile is making some wonderful cabs.  You can likely find a few labels from chile.  grab a bottle and explore.

Or you could take it a few steps further.  Have you read of a great vintage year from chile?  Or a particular region that is getting attention?

All this points to is having fun.  Explore.  Even a wine that you aren't crazy about helps you narrow your search in the future.  Of course, you can eliminate the guessing game and head for your local winery, where you can taste before you buy.  Simple.