All aspiring wine lovers need to start somewhere. Even the most knowledgeable of wine drinkers didn’t wake up one morning with lists of wine data imprinted in their minds. Here at Entaste we know a lot about Wine Geekdom – skilled sommeliers and wine experts teaming up with savvy techies to create the world’s leading digital wine list and wine monitor report. For those who want to learn just how to go from casual wine drinking to wine superstardom, we turned to Snooth and The Huffington Post who have outlined seven key steps to follow in order to become a wine super geek.
Step One: Get Hooked
So you like drinking wine. It tastes good and makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. But now you’d like to know more than just being able to tell the difference between the “red” and “yellow” kinds. You may have started by drinking the sweet stuff (and by sweet stuff, we mean sweet wine) but the wannabe wine geek inside just hasn’t fully blossomed.. until you try that one special wine that hooks you.
Step Two: Try Everything
So now you are hooked on wine – welcome to the world of dangerously addictive (and expensive) habits. With so many wines right across the horizon, it’s imperative to let the taste testing begin. Try everything. Different varietals, vintages, countries, wineries – never buy the same bottle twice. It’s definitely an overwhelming task, but keep a journal, go to local wine shops, check out wine tastings, read the wine blogs, soak up all the grape-y wine knowledge.
Step Three: Love Everything
Does every wine taste good to you? That’s a great thing – you are closer to becoming a true wine lover. Keep drinking! This is the fun part.
Step Four: Loving Power
Congrats! You are half way there to becoming a major wine geek. Since you clearly are getting into the wine groove, your winedom probably has already started to evolve: what’s your wine style? Dry? Fruity? Sweet? Intense? Oaky?
Step Five: Loving Complexity
The point of no return: now you are really rolling in the wine knowledge. Here is where you are learning about winemaking techniques, what’s happening in the vineyard, where is the wine coming from, comparing new world vs. old world wines, and talking wine shop with whoever wants to listen.
Step Six: Loving Elegance and Finesse
Classy wine obsessors, the fun has just begun. You have raised the wine bar and now things have become more complex, starting with your wine. You are discovering the multiple layers of flavors and aromas – each sip reveals something you didn’t notice before.
Step Seven: The Ultimate Wine Geek
Congratulations, you made it to wine geekdom! Just think how far you’ve come… you used to drink wine and say, ‘Yum’ and now you swirl, sniff, smell and say ‘Hmmm..’ being able to intelligently and confidently discuss wine with even the biggest of connoisseurs.
Source: Snooth and The Huffington Post
Photo courtesy of JohnMariani.com