How To Be a Pro in the Wine Aisle

We know, picking a good wine is a daunting task. You’ve had a rough day and all you want is to go home and unwind with a fantastic glass (or several) of wine. But, shopping for wine, even for the seasoned wine drinker, can feel like the opposite of relaxation. So, where to start? And how do you know a wine is good? The most important thing is, of course, that you enjoy your wine drinking experience – no fussy rules, no expectations. And to make that task a little easier, we’ve chatted to KWV Wines about how to take all the intimidation out of shopping for your tipple so that all that’s required is for you to pick it up, take it home and pour yourself a glass of something divine.

Here are a few tips to make the wine buying process easier, and the drinking part that much more enjoyable:

What’s your favourite colour?

This one’s fairly easy – do you prefer a crisp, clear white wine or a bold, warming red? While any wine can be enjoyed at any time of the year, it’s fairly accepted that white wine is refreshing for a hot, humid day and reds are perfect to curl up with on a bitterly cold night. Once you’ve made that distinction, and really it’s just a matter of preference, you’re already half way to narrowing down which wine to pick.

Reading the label also helps – find out the vintage, the variety and origin of the wine, while also finding expert notes about its taste and characteristics.

What are your taste buds telling you?

Right, so you’ve picked a colour and variety; now to decide what taste you’re going for. Do berries sound better than chocolate to you? Or perhaps gooseberries are more appealing than grass? Maybe you’re craving something citrusy and sweet over something spicy and full-bodied? Every one is different, so try out a few to see what these differences mean to you. Of course, you can always ask for assistance in the shop to get a better idea of flavour profiles and which wine will suit your needs best.

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What’s the occasion?

Having a quiet night in on your own? Needing to buy a bottle as a gift for a dinner party or birthday? Once you’ve decided what the wine is for, and you’ve got a price range in mind, ask an assistant to help you find the perfect wine for your budget.

Ultimately, it’s really not that difficult of a task. There is so much variety available and that allows for some fun experimentation with different flavours and styles of wine. The best part is you only need to keep trying out different ones to be sure of your favourites, so as with most things, practice makes perfect.