A portion of this article appeared on the Vail Daily, Carpe Wine column by Elaine Schoch.
Learning how to discover new wine doesn’t require an expert’s palate or an unlimited budget. It’s about curiosity, a willingness to experiment, and being brave enough to branch out from your usual Pinot Grigio. I chat with way too many people who have never tried certain wines or are afraid to buy something they might not like. I get it, but life is short and there are too many good wines out there waiting to be discovered.
Whether you’re wondering how to discover new wine varieties on a budget or looking to expand your existing collection, I’ve put together proven strategies to help both casual sippers and seasoned wine enthusiasts explore exciting bottles without breaking the bank. These methods for how to choose wine will transform your approach to wine selection and open up a world of flavors you never knew existed.
Cheers to going beyond the familiar wine aisle – I hope you make some incredible discoveries!
Stick to a Region
Do you love Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley? I do. I also really like Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay and from Willamette Valley. They’re different grapes, but the terroir – the climate, soil and the overall growing environment – is the same. Many times, the winemaking process is also similar within a region. That said, if you like a specific type of grape varietal from a region, chances are you’ll enjoy other varietals from that region.
Skip the Bottle and Order a Glass
Many times, it’s more cost-effective to order a bottle of wine for a group of people at a restaurant. However, it doesn’t always mean your food is going to be paired properly with the courses in your meal. It’s ok to ask the server for their wine pairing recommendations – by the glass – and if you’re unfamiliar with the wine or unsure if you will like it, ask for a taste. If it’s by the glass, it’s a simple, easy ask. Just don’t go overboard, one or two tastes is reasonable.
Explore with Food Pairings
I have discovered that I like several types of wines I traditionally turned my nose at when they’re paired with the right foods. Spicy Asian food with Sauvignon Blanc, Tannat with a burger and blue cheese are just two examples. Leverage the Sommelier at a restaurant and ask for their wine pairing suggestions, as I mentioned before, you can do them by the glass or ask for samples.
Stick to a Grape
Let’s say you love Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. A Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux, Chile or New Zealand will taste completely different even though it’s the same grape. It’s that whole terroir thing again – the climate and soil are different. But you know you like Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, so even though it’s the same grape it may not taste as big and bold but chances are you’ll enjoy it and maybe even fall in love with a less expensive but just as tasty Cab from Chile.
Think About the Weather/Location of a Wine Region
Let’s go back to the example of loving Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. This is a warm region, which results in wines having higher levels of sugar and alcohol, lower levels of acidity, and bold, ripe fruit flavors along with smoother tannins. Compared to a Cabernet Sauvignon from the cooler region of Bordeaux which will be a bit more tart with drier tannins along with more herbal and mineral flavors. In cooler wine region, grapes are slower to ripen so they do not produce as much sugar or alcohol and they retain more acidity.
Restaurant Winemaker Dinners
A number of restaurants offer private dinners with winemakers that pairs special menus with their wines. These tend to be intimate – maybe 20 people – so you get to know your neighbors and the winemaker or wine rep.
Events and Festivals
I’ve written about wine festivals in the past and told you how great they are to explore new regions and wines, but it’s worth repeating. Go to these events ready to explore and take notes. Or at least take pictures of the wines you like to keep track because I promise after a few sips, you will forget.
Wine Apps
I have a love-hate relationship with WINE apps and AI driven wine applications. A bot will never be able to tell you how a wine tastes, just how it’s supposed to or what people have told it. That said, I have found a few wine apps I like and use. Vivino<https://www.vivino.com/app> is my most used wine app both when I’m on a wine trip as well as at home. It helps me keep track of the wines I’m sipping and my tasting notes. The app offers a photo label recognition system that quickly matches a photo you take of the bottle with the wine, reviews, ratings, tasting notes and what the wine costs. (That’s a good use of AI for wine.)
Wine Shop Tastings
Many local wine shops offer wine tastings on certain days to bring customers into the store. Obviously, their goal is to get you to buy the wine, but it’s a good way to explore different seasonal wines and grapes you may not have sipped before. There is no risk since they’re typically free and if you do like the wine, take a bottle home
Elaine Schoch is an award-winning travel writer, wine judge, American Wine Specialist and certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET II). At Carpe Travel she shares wine travel destination guides for ALL WINE LOVERS – from novices to experienced pros – to help them plan their wine adventures, arming them with insider tips, must-visit spots, and things to see and do beyond the vines.