Home Wine Tips How to go into a wine shop, choose a wine, and not be disappointed with your choice

How to go into a wine shop, choose a wine, and not be disappointed with your choice

Before you go to the wine shop, let me help you think through a few things.

1. Do you prefer sweet or tart foods?
   
   Whichever taste you prefer in foods, you will likely prefer in drinks, including wines. Most completely dry wines tend to be relatively tart, or have a certain amount of refreshing crispness. Most tart wines are the dry wines produced in cold regions such as Germany, Canada, Austria, Britain and the northern reaches of France such as Champagne, the Loire, and Chablis. Examples include dry German Riesling, French Chablis, and Austrian Gruner Veltliner.
   
   Wines that seem less tart--for a number of technical reasons--include those grown in warmer climates. Examples include Australian Chardonnay, Chilean Merlot, many red wines from Spain made from the Grenache grape, and Californian White Zinfandels. There are exceptions, but generally warm climate wines don't taste as tart. Instead, they seem rounder and a little more fruity. This is not to say these wines are sweet.
   
   Sweet wines are not as common as dry wines but good ones to try include French Sauternes, Canadian Icewine, and Italian Vin Santo. These are very sweet wines and are thus considered dessert wines.
2. Learn to look for your preferred flavours in wine.
   
   Try this. Of the following flavours and aromas, which ones do you like?
   Gooseberry
   Lime
   Red cherry
   Black liquorice
   Honey
   Raspberry
   Blackberry
   Caramel and nuts
   Apricot
   Strawberry
   Black currant
   Citrus
   Lychee
   Buttered nuts
   Vanilla
   Roses
   Black cherry
   Dark chocolate
   Grass/herbaceousness
   Peaches
   Black pepper
   Almonds
   Mineral character (the smell of wet stones)
   Green apple
   Bread
3. The flavours you choose will help you select wines you’ll most likely enjoy. Now, look at the list below to find wines you will probably like.
   Gooseberry
      — New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (white)
   Lime
      — German Riesling (white)
      — New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (white)
   Red cherry
      — Italian Chianti (red)
      — Italian Sangiovese (red)
      — Chilean/Californian/Australian Merlot (red)
      — Red Bordeaux (France)
   Black liquorice
      — South African Pinotage (red)
   Honey
      — French Sauternes
      — Canadian Icewine (white)
   Raspberry
      — French Cabernet Franc (red)
      — Californian Zinfandel (red)
   Blackberry
      — Australian Shiraz
      — French Cotes de Rhone (red)
   Caramel and nuts
      — Sherry (golden usually)
      — Tawny Port (red)
      — Madeira (golden)
   Apricot
      — French Viognier (white)
      — Californian/Australian Viognier (white)
   Strawberry
      — Red Burgundy (France)
      — Washington Pinot Noir (red)
      — Californian White Zinfandel (pink)
   Black currant
      — Californian Cabernet Sauvignon (red)
      — Red Bordeaux (France)
      — Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (red)
      — Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (red0
   Citrus
      — Unoaked Californian Chardonnay (white)
      — Unoaked Australian Chardonnay (white)
   Lychee
      — German Gerwurztraminer (white)
      — French (Alsace) Gerwurztraminer (white)
   Buttered nuts
      — White Burgundy (France)
   Vanilla
      — Oaked Californian/Australian Chardonnay (white)
   Roses
      — German or French (Alsace) Gerwurztraminer (white)
   Black Cherry
      — Chilean Merlot (red)
      — Californian Merlot (red)
      — Spanish Rioja (red)
   Dark chocolate
      — Italian Nebbiolo (red)
      — Red Bordeaux (France)
   Grass/herbaceousness
      — French Muscadet (white)
      — New Zealand Sauvignon blanc (white)
      — French Sancerre (white)
   Peaches
      — White Bordeaux (France)
      — South African Semillon (white)
      — Australian Viogner (white)
   Black pepper
      — Red Cotes du Rhone (France)
      — Australian Shiraz (red)
      — Red Bordeaux (France)
   Almonds
      — Italian Verdicchio (white)
   Mineral character
      — French Chablis (white)
      — French Sancerre (white)
   Green Apple
      — French Muscadet (white)
      — French Brut Champagne (white)
      — French Chablis (white)
   Bread
      — French Muscadet Sur Lie (white)
      — Good quality French Champagne (white)
4. To tailor your choice further, think about whether you prefer powerful or subtle fruit flavours in a glass of wine.
   
   Countries that have been producing wine for centuries—such as Italy, France, Spain and Germany—produce wines with more restrained fruit flavours. Newer wine producing countries—such as Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Chile, Canada, and United States—generally make wines with stronger fruit flavours.
5. Now you’re ready to make your selection with more confidence.