Thursday, June 3, 2010

Sipping Socially: How To Go To A Wine Store


Walking into a wine store can be intimidating. James Bond could fall out of a plane, crash through the ceiling, and still pick out the perfect Bordeaux. Not you, though. Hundreds of bottles stare back at you, mocking your inexperience. The labels are in different languages, you can't pronounce the grape varietal, and you wouldn't know what to serve with a Spatburgunder if someone put a corkscrew to your head.

Well, relax. The wine store is there to impress you, not the other way around. You're not supposed to know all the different wines. They are. Great bottles exist at every price range for all occasions. The key to finding them is to pick the right store, develop a relationship with the staff and learn more about your personal taste.

Choose the Right Store, Tip I: Given a choice, avoid stores that carry more liquor than wine, as well as those where you only see big-name brands and no smaller boutique wines. In your case, the more wine you don't recognize the better.

Choose the Right Store, Tip II: Is the place well-lit and clean, or dark and dingy? The atmosphere of the store can be a good indicator of how carefully the wines are selected. If the place is excessively warm avoid it altogether.

Choose the Right Store, Tip III: Most important, are the salespeople friendly and communicative? Wine stores can play on your paranoia and ego. No one wants to get ripped off, but with wine we fear spending too little as well as spending too much. Good salespeople are attentive to what you're looking for and respectful of your budget.

Start a Relationship With the Staff, Tip I: People used to know their butcher and baker. Supermarkets have eliminated these relationships, but with wine you still need to know the person selling it to you. It's not like buying crackers or soda.

Start a Relationship With the Staff, Tip IV: If you ask for a $15 bottle and they show you one for $25 be wary, but if the salesperson knows something perfect for $18 then give it a try. Beware any wine they can't tell you anything about or haven't personally tried. If you feel ignored and they reach for the nearest bottle stacked high in the bargain bin, try somewhere else.

The Repeat Visit: After you've tried the wine, go back to the store and tell them what you thought. Let them know if it was a huge hit, but don't be scared to say if you didn't like it. Find the same salesperson and explain what worked or what didn't. Most wines aren't simply good or bad; taste in wine is very individual. Repeat visits can help them determine which bottles are more likely to appeal to you. There may be a few mistakes along the way; that's normal. If after a few visits you haven't enjoyed anything, don't be shy about asking to be helped by someone else.


Adam Morganstern - Huffington Post

(Photo from Flickr: WTL photos)


1 comment:

  1. Im glad I dont drink anything but Pink Nuvo, I can relate to that and its pinkalicious lol

    ReplyDelete