I was actually just talking about this today with someone. I got into wine after working at a high end steakhouse in Phoenix (Donovan’s) and I learned to appreciate wine. I compared it to cigars in the sense that once you know what to look for and find a personal taste, you get more out of it. Smell the wine and think about what you smell, then taste it and do the same. Just like a cigar, sample around until you know what you like and then go from there. As far as pairing, as long as you don't get into extremes you should be fine. Reds for heavier foods (red meat, pork, etc) whites for lighter foods (fish, chicken).
Wine festivals and tastings are a great way to learn more. If you find a good one, it’s like $10-20 for unlimited samples. Some places will have 20-30 different wines to taste. This is the perfect way to taste anything and everything without "committing" to a whole bottle. Plus the organizers are very knowledgeable and will answer any questions.
As far as re-corking/capping, just use the original cork or some liquor stores have decorative seals but those are usually if you drink a lot and not always necessary.
For just starting out, a good brand is "Yellowtail". It’s an Australian company that has a good selection and they have some blends as well (cab/merlot, etc). Very inexpensive and I have never had a bad bottle. They usually go for $6-8 and I always see them on sale for less. Look for a kangaroo on the label. (Damn, this makes me want a drink...)
At the end of the day, you can't really go wrong...
Wine festivals and tastings are a great way to learn more. If you find a good one, it’s like $10-20 for unlimited samples. Some places will have 20-30 different wines to taste. This is the perfect way to taste anything and everything without "committing" to a whole bottle. Plus the organizers are very knowledgeable and will answer any questions.
As far as re-corking/capping, just use the original cork or some liquor stores have decorative seals but those are usually if you drink a lot and not always necessary.
For just starting out, a good brand is "Yellowtail". It’s an Australian company that has a good selection and they have some blends as well (cab/merlot, etc). Very inexpensive and I have never had a bad bottle. They usually go for $6-8 and I always see them on sale for less. Look for a kangaroo on the label. (Damn, this makes me want a drink...)
At the end of the day, you can't really go wrong...
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