How To Use Wine Tastings

How do you use wine tastings to your advantage? In this post I’ll be talking about a few tips that will save you time (and money) when trying to find the right red wine for you.

This post also works for drinks too. Sample before you buy wherever possible!

This chapter also helps to explain how I’ve sampled so many varieties of red wine without breaking the bank, getting drunk every day, or damaging my liver. ;-)

Tasting Areas

In many liquor or wine stores these days, they have tasting areas where you either load up a card, or pay for a sample of the various wines available. This can be a superb way to try a variety of wines without breaking the bank.

Use the previous part to help pick one that sounds suitable to you, or just try a few different varieties and you should be able to find something that suits you.

It may seem expensive buying a sip of wine for $1 (just an example, prices vary) but it's a lot cheaper than splashing out money on a bottle that you don't like.

But, what if these are not available in your area?

Wine Festivals

You can also try to find a local wine festival and take along a friend who is; just as much a novice as you are so you can laugh at each other's responses, or take someone who already enjoys a glass of red and have them help you along the way further.

Alternatively, you could try to find someone at the event who can perhaps further assist you.

The great thing about tastings is there are often spit buckets for you to shoot anything you find horrible into. No need to swallow it when there’s spittoons about!

One other thing

It’s also worth mentioning that the people who run or work in wine stores, own wineries, or help out at festivals and tastings are often passionate about it. Use this to your advantage, get talking to people at these places and they will impart their experience upon you willingly. They will also be able to help you to pick out something that suits you.

I once visited a winery that made fruit based wines, after talking to the guy for a few minutes explaining my likes and dislikes, he had poured out a few samples for me to taste. Knowing what I liked, all 3 of them hit the mark and I left with a rather empty wallet. Without his help, I may have gone home empty handed and cracked open a cheap bottle of beer instead.

That's about it as far as tasting tips go, thanks for viewing!

Any questions or comments? Feel free to ask away.

Up next; I'm going to be posting a series of recipes that include red wine as one of the ingredients.