Wine stores and supermarkets typically stock hundreds, if
not thousands, of different wines. Knowing which bottle to select can,
understandably, feel like a Herculean task. Here are a few pointers to help you
understand the wine-shopping process.
5 Factors to Consider When Buying Wine
Here are some factors to consider when selecting a bottle of
wine, whether you're shopping for wine in a grocery store, wine shop, or off
the wine list at a restaurant.
1. Understand your financial situation. Decide how much you
want to spend before you go to the restaurant or wine shop. Keep in mind that
the most expensive wine isn't always the best wine to choose. If you're having
trouble deciding on a wine, tell the shopkeeper, waiter, or sommelier your
price range and let them guide you to some options within your price range.
2. Consider the occasion. The criteria for purchasing
wine vary according to the occasion. For example, when pairing wine with a
meal, think about how the wine will enhance the eating experience. If you're
just hanging out with friends, you might want something that will please everyone
without detracting from the rest of the evening. Before making a choice,
consider the role you want the wine to play.
3. Pair with food. Different wines complement different
types of food. Rosé, sparkling wines, and white wines pair well with chicken,
fish, and vegetable dishes, while red wines pair well with beef and lamb. You
could, for example, pair Sauvignon Blanc with a salad, Chardonnay with salmon,
and Cabernet Sauvignon with filet mignon.
4. Follow your palate. Reading the wine labels and
looking for flavor notes they know and love will help novice wine drinkers.
More seasoned wine drinkers will remember the wine regions and vintages they
have previously enjoyed and will use that knowledge to select future bottles.
If you enjoy California wines, consider a 2019 Napa Valley Merlot—a notable
vintage for that varietal and region.
5. Ask for help. Whether you're a novice or an expert,
seeking advice is always a good idea, especially when you're stuck. Every good
bottle shop or restaurant will have a resident expert who can point you in the
right direction based on your budget, occasion, and preferences. Help may be
more difficult to come by at big box retailers; instead, if you're looking for
a great wine, consider shopping at a local wine shop.
4 Tips on
Consider the following wine-buying advice:
1. Start with confidence. Be confident with the options
in the wine aisle as you look through them. There are wines you know you like,
so you can be confident that you will find another one. As a starting point for
discovering new wines, start with the types of wines you already know you
enjoy.
2. Attend a tasting class. Wine's complexity is
appealing, but it can also be intimidating. However, there is no need to be
alarmed. The more you learn about and experience wine, the easier it is to
purchase it. Tasting classes are an excellent venue for this. Go wine tasting
with some friends and make a list of the wines you like.
3. Drink as the locals do. Traveling provides an excellent
opportunity to sample new wines. Visit a winemaker in France, Italy, Germany,
Portugal, or Spain and buy a bottle made from local grape varieties. California
(particularly wines from Sonoma and Napa Valley), Oregon, and Washington State
are among the best wine regions in the United States.
4. Price can be deceiving. Some high-quality wines
command high prices in wine shops and specialty cellars, but if you want something
to drink tonight, try something less expensive. In general, the more expensive
the wine, the more likely it has a complex flavor profile—which isn't for
everyone.
