Whether you’re an expert or a novice, these tips from Ted Klose, owner and president of Ted the Wine Guy & Co., will help you increase your wine knowledge.
For the beginner:
Find a good wine book: Klose recommended the “The Wine Bible,” by Karen MacNeil and “Windows of the World,” by Kevin Zraly for beginners. “They explain it (wine) thoroughly, but not over a beginner’s head,” Klose said.
Go to wine tastings: “The best way to learn is to taste” Klose said. “Find a store that does tastings and that can explain the differences in wine.” It is fun to learn, and to go as many tastings as you can. He also said that tastings give you a chance to figure out which wines you do and don’t like. He noted that Ted the Wine Guy & Co. have free tastings every Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For the expert:
Read professional publications: Klose recommended Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate and Matt Kramer’s articles in The Wine Spectator. Klose said professional publications tend to be more in-depth and concise.
Keep going to tastings: “You can never stop learning,” Klose said. “I still learn about wines when I taste different wine forms.”
Get a blind pour wine group: “You can never stop learning,” Klose said. “You don’t have the preconceived notion that the priciest wine is the best one” Klose said. Wine groups can work for beginners but are more effective at expert levels. He recommended a group with three or four other friends. Klose said his wine group would meet quarterly and focuses on either a grape type or region for each meeting, with each person bringing in a separate brand. “You can have a lot of fun with it,” Klose said.
By: Justin Blowers
***Grabbed from: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/life/2017/07/04/wine-tips-everyone/393034001/