Buying wine can be an adventure for many wine lovers. You may be wondering how you’re going to choose a wine when there are a myriad of enjoyable options out there. Don’t worry; we’ve come up with some tips to help you embark on your wine-buying journey:
1. Choose a Place to Shop – Wine is highly popular worldwide; so be sure to find a wine shop or grocery store that will offer a variety of wines and vintages to choose from. Since each store varies, you will want to find the one that best suits your needs. Search for wine shops that offer organized wine tastings or allow you to purchase wine by the glass. This will give you the chance to taste test and find your favorites before committing to a purchase.
2. Establish a Budget – Whether you are buying wine for a romantic dinner, casual picnic or holiday party, you will want to establish a budget. Your main goal is to purchase the best quality wine that fits within your budget.
3. Read Labels – Labels are usually found on the front of the wine bottle and contain a variety of helpful information. Carefully read the label in its entirety. The information you will find includes the wine producer, brand name, region, appellation or variety, vintage or non-vintage, alcohol by volume, estate bottled wine details, special designations, vineyard designations, net contents, declaration of sulfites and a government warning. By reading over the details on the label, you will know the type of grapes used to make the wine, the level of alcohol (which usually ranges between 13.5% to 17%), if it contains a high amount of sulfites and federal regulated government warnings. This information may seem overwhelming at first, but it actually tells you a lot about the wine.
4. Learn a Store’s System – Merchants organize their store however they feel is best presentable to their customers. This means you may walk into many different wine shops that have a different system. Usually, you can find wines arranged by grape varieties such as Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Foreign wines are presented by country of origin and grouped by their country such as Spain, France and Italy. At times, there could be a designated area for special promotions and discounted wines.
5. Ask Questions – Don’t be shy. If you need help selecting a wine or assistance navigating around the shop, just ask. This is the perfect time to start narrowing down your options. You will want to inform the sales associate that you are working within a budget, what type of wine you are interested in and if you would like a domestic or international brand.
You are now prepared to shop for a delicious wine (hopefully with some more confidence) and a clear picture of the shopping experience. Remember to choose a wine shop or grocery store that is best suited for your needs, stay within your established budget, read labels and ask questions. Shop smart and reward yourself with a tall, chilled glass of your new buy.