For the wine drinkers here, how do you learn to enjoy wine?

[_19disnA]

Mimosa is typically made with 50% orange juice & 50% champagne. Technically, France claims that they are the only ones allowed to call something 'champagne' if made in specific areas of their country. Many other places around the world also make 'champagne' and am not sure if France can legally enforce those claims outside of Europe. Much of that seems to be an attempt to limit competition and claim a monopoly over certain products.

I enjoy wines that taste good to me. I am not a wine 'snob' and could care less about how many awards it has won or how expensive it is. More expensive wines tend to be a reflection of the fact there is a limited supply so they can charge more due to demand. I don't find that more expensive wines taste any better. Try those smaller containers of various types of white/red wines to see the ones you like best. It is almost like the difference between Coke/Pepsi. If you don't like the flavor of Pepsi, try Coke instead. I have never felt the need to 'learn' to enjoy the taste of Pepsi when I don't enjoy it. I feel the same way about wine. Find wines where you enjoy the taste and stick to those.

 

[Foxhound3857]

I enjoy wines that taste good to me. I am not a wine 'snob' and could care less about how many awards it has won or how expensive it is. More expensive wines tend to be a reflection of the fact there is a limited supply so they can charge more due to demand. I dont' find that more expensive wines taste any better. Try those smaller containers of various types of white/red wines to see the ones you like best. It is almost like the difference between Coke/Pepsi. If you don't like the flavor of Pepsi, try Coke instead. I have never felt the need to 'learn' to enjoy the taste of Pepsi when I don't enjoy it. I feel the same way about wine. Find wines where you enjoy the taste and stick to those.

THAT is a definite thing with me. I love Coke but I dislike Pepsi because it goes flat too quickly. Coke stays fizzy for much longer.

 

[_19disnA]

I also don't like the taste of Pepsi, it has always tasted too sweet to me. But much like with wine, that is a matter of personal preference and depends on how the taste of something appeals to you.

 

[tvguy]

I enjoy wines that taste good to me.

That is what it is all about Not what variety of grape it was made from, winery it was made by, the cost or the awards.

 

[tvguy]

THAT is a definite thing with me. I love Coke but I dislike Pepsi because it goes flat too quickly. Coke stays fizzy for much longer.

Where do you live? I would be surprised if there aren't some wineries near you that offer tastings. Do a Google search for wineries in your area. They might charge $15 or $20 for a tasting, but that is the best way to get an idea of what wines you like. Most wineries will have a range. And at least here, most will waive the tasting fee if you end up buying a bottle.

 

[Foxhound3857]

Where do you live? I would be surprised if there aren't some wineries near you that offer tastings. Do a Google search for wineries in your area. They might charge $15 or $20 for a tasting, but that is the best way to get an idea of what wines you like. Most wineries will have a range. And at least here, most will waive the tasting fee if you end up buying a bottle.

San Bernadino County, California. The High Desert, specifically.

 

[disneychrista]

The best way to learn to like wine is to find what you like. Try different varieties and different brands.

 

[tvguy]

San Bernadino County, California. The High Desert, specifically.

Are you near Apple Valley?

https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=wineries&find_loc=Apple+Valley,+CA

 

[Foxhound3857]

Are you near Apple Valley?

https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=wineries&find_loc=Apple+Valley,+CA

About 15 miles from Apple Valley, not far. Most of my interviews have been in that area.

 

[RangerPooh]

I enjoy sweet wines; Riesling. Moscato, and Gewurztraminer. Barefoot (the pink Moscato) my go to, but there are others out there that are good too (Winking Owl, FlipFlop). I’m not picky so cheaper is fine by me. Although I love a good Riesling. I also have a blackberry wine that is really good.

 

[tvguy]

About 15 miles from Apple Valley, not far. Most of my interviews have been in that area.

Pick a winery that offers tastings and give it a shot.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I am a sparking wine drinker. If I drink a flat wine I prefer a Pinot Grigio or a sauvignon blanc. Both are a light white wine. I do not like a sweet wine. I find Chardonnay to be too oaky for me (I do like ones made in steel). I think the best way to see what you like is to go to some tastings and try different kinds to see what you enjoy. If you enjoy a sparkling wine a light white would be a good place to start.

 

[Foxhound3857]

I am a sparking wine drinker. If I drink a flat wine I prefer a Pinot Grigio or a sauvignon blanc. Both are a light white wine. I do not like a sweet wine. I find Chardonnay to be too oaky for me (I do like ones made in steel). I think the best way to see what you like is to go to some tastings and try different kinds to see what you enjoy. If you enjoy a sparkling wine a light white would be a good place to start.

If you don't like sweet and your go-to is Pinot or Sauvignon Blanc that's a good indicator of what I should try next. Those will be my next two.

I'm gonna open this as soon as my dinner is finished, roast beef sandwiches with cheddar. As I understand it, savory foods like cheddar cheese go well with reds.

 

[disneyfan123]

Pretty much all wine I've ever had tastes like vinegar? I had a red Inniskillin wine that I liked once, but that's about it. I feel like wine is something I could get into, but I don't know where to start, so I'm curious to see where this thread goes.

 

[mikehn]

Not all, but some of the pricey wines are pricey for a good reason. You'll find that out down the road. I recently started hanging with the wrong crowd who started me down this path

 

[LoveDaisy]

If you don't like sweet and your go-to is Pinot or Sauvignon Blanc that's a good indicator of what I should try next. Those will be my next two.

I'm gonna open this as soon as my dinner is finished, roast beef sandwiches with cheddar. As I understand it, savory foods like cheddar cheese go well with reds.

I hope you find one you enjoy! Happy tastings!

 

[eandt]

The last time I even tried wine was 10 years ago at Sizzler, I just had a basic Merlot with my burger. Couldn't drink more than a couple of sips, found it to be far too bitter for my palette.

Today I bought a mid-shelf (I hope it's mid at least) bottle of Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon, going to give wine another chance tonight, as I'm trying to move away from vodka/red bull and find something both more economical and that I can enjoy with the things I like to have at night, like a bottle of coke and a bowl of popcorn. For the wine drinkers here, what advice can you give me to help me settle into enjoying or at least acquiring a palette for wine?

I’d suggest if you have any local wineries in your area to stop in and do some tastings … this way you learn about wines and wine making process and get to sample wines for a small fee rather than buy an entire bottle you might not enjoy … we are not by any means experts but we have learned what we like so we never purchase a bottle we won’t enjoy

 

[Foxhound3857]

Alright, tried the Cabernet. Tasted just like the Merlot all those years ago. Slightly fruity up front but the bitterness comes in quick, and I can't tell if it's the tannins or the alcohol. I let it sit in the glass for about 15 minutes to "let it breathe" too. So yeah, don't think it's for me, this one at least.

But added some orange juice to it and that helped it quite a bit. Took the bitterness away. Still don't think it's the drink for me though.

 

[jeneric997]

You may just not like red wine, but Sangria would probably taste good to you! So try Pinot Grigio, Savignon Blanc and Chardonnay. If you want to try a red in the future Pinot Noir would be one with very low tannins.

 

[tvguy]

Not all, but some of the pricey wines are pricey for a good reason. You'll find that out down the road. I recently started hanging with the wrong crowd who started me down this path

I had a friend (who got me interested in wine) who used to like to go to a very fancy restaurant with an expensive bottle of wine that was rare. His goal was to find a wine that the restaurant did not have, and that the sommelier had heard of but never tried. He always invited the sommelier to sit down and have a glass and chat. And the sommelier always waived the corkage fee. LOL.
40+ years into wine as a hobby, I still enjoy finding great tasting wines and a great price. The most I have ever paid for a bottle was $58 to celebrate my wife's second retirement a few weeks ago. The best bargain I ever found? A distributor of wines closing out their inventory and closing down. Got a case of Dom Perignon for $36 a bottle. That was back when it was retailing for about $125. It runs close to $250 a bottle now..