The Dos and Don'ts for buying Wine: From Someone Who Knows

My name is Jen and my job is retail wine sales.

I’m not a sommelier, I’ve never taken a class in how to taste wine, and I subscribe to no wine magazines. I am a home chef and take great pride in being a world class “bonne vivante” and self-educated, big time, proud as all hell WINO.

The world of wine is vast, and I truly believe no matter what your taste, there is a wine for every palate. Sharing my knowledge gives me great joy, and I’m happy to be able to do so here on this blog.

Time and time again I get customers coming into the store, intimidated by the thousands of bottles surrounding them. They aren’t sure what to get, or how to describe what they are looking for in a wine.

Here are some helpful tips to take the fear out of shopping for wine:

1. WHAT IS THE WINE FOR?
When you go into a wine shop, it is important to tell the wine salesperson what the wine is for. Is it to drink tonight while eating takeout and watching LOST, or are you having a meal of codfish with shiitakes and saffron broth? Is it a gift for a wine snob -- or for your doorman? Are you on a budget or is price no object? There is a wine for every occasion, no matter how casual or formal.

2. POINT & SHOOT
Use your cameraphone to take pictures of wines you like. Not only will it be much easier for you to remember, but it will help your wine salesperson choose the right wine for you. If you don’t have a camera-phone, a waiter/sommelier should always be able to remove the label off the bottle you order (or write down what you ordered). “Wine diaries” are sold in most bookstores, so start collecting labels for future reference.

3. DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE
Just because a wine was raved about by Robert Parker or the Wall Street Journal does not mean you will enjoy it. Robert Parker is one human being with one palate. Wine magazines and “critics” are often paid (or given great percs) to write about certain wines, so don’t assume that you like Pinot Grigio just because everyone else is drinking it. They, like many other producers, spend millions of dollars in marketing convincing the public that they are the greatest wine on the market. A few years ago, California zinfandel producers made a large media push, insisting that their wines are the best pairing for Thanksgiving dinner. Food and wine writers followed like lemmings. Unfortunately, zinfandel does not compliment turkey nor its side dishes, and millions of holiday dinners since have been ruined by high alcohol, fruit-driven wines that are best drunk with steak, potatoes, and creamed spinach.

Don’t believe the hype, and listen to your palate. You may prefer a $9 Merlot to a $90 Brunello. It doesn’t mean you’re unsophisticated, it just means you’re smart enough to know what you like.

4. YOU'RE THE BOSS
The cardinal rule is DRINK WHAT YOU LIKE! Life is too short to drink bad wine.


Next week: How to describe the wines you like - and dislike -- and open yourself up to new varietals.

JEN RYAN is a self-taught wino whose first sip of wine was a trockenbeerenauslese at age 10. Her world has been better since. Visit her Thursdays through Sundays at Vintage Grape, 1479 Third Avenue (between 83rd & 84th). www.vintagegrape.net