5 Steps to Becoming a Wine Connoisseur

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Whether you want to save your wine for special occasions, or you want to have a daily glass with dinner, becoming a connoisseur will go a long way to helping increase your knowledge of all things wine-related. From storage to food pairings to selecting your next collector’s bottle, the more you know, the more you’ll appreciate all fine wines. 

  1. Wine Storage: If putting your half-opened bottle of wine in the fridge with a rubber stopper is your idea of storage, you may need to educate yourself more on the subject. Certain wines are best stored slightly chilled, while others need cool, dry spaces. There are many storage units and coolers available if you want to keep your wine at home. If you have a large collection, you may want to consider an offsite storage solution.  
  2. Wine Exchange: A wine exchange can be a great way to raise funds from your collection. Whether you want to raise cash, or you want to exchange for other collections or types of wine, there are companies that can help you. They have the connections with other wine owners to help match you with the right buyer. This method can help you understand the value of certain wines, giving you an idea of which wines are most in demand. One more step to becoming a connoisseur.  
  3. Know your pairings: An expert will be able to tell you unequivocally what to serve with duck, goose, sushi or even tiramisu. This will take some time to learn, but once you do, people will be asking for your advice on a regular basis. There are many different varieties, and each can be paired with a particular food, no matter the occasion. This is probably one of the most important things to educate yourself on if you want to be a true expert and want to impress your friends and family. Dinner parties will never be the same!  
  4. Develop your palette: To appreciate wine, you must develop your palette. That means tasting many different wines and deciphering the subtle and not-so-subtle flavors. Oak, fruit and even butter can be tasted in certain wines. It all comes down to the amount and length of fermentation and alcohol content. Once you learn to identify the flavors, you’ll be able to choose the right wine for your tastes and preferences.  
  5. Engage in Wine Tastings: Most wineries offer tours and wine tasting events to help you learn what goes into making their wine and what makes theirs different from others. To get the most from your wine tasting experience, learn how to do it properly. Swirl the wine in your glass, take a sip, and swirl it around your mouth to the back of your throat to get the most of the flavor. Clean your palette with water between wines and try not to taste more than three at a time. This makes a great outing for you and your friends and can be a romantic excursion for you and your spouse too. 

Don’t expect to become an expert overnight. It can take years to develop your palette; with so many new wines coming on the market regularly, it can be difficult to keep up. Wine tasting can be a great hobby and there is always something new to learn. You can even plan some of your vacations in the most popular wine regions in the world to gain even more knowledge and experience.