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I've made my share of New Year's resolutions through the years, but none quite as delicious (or easy to keep) as the ones about wine. How many of your resolutions are wine-related? Whether you plan to take a course or read a book, learning about wine can be one of the easiest, most fun New Year's resolutions to keep. Here’s a checklist of 10 things to do this year that will make wine more accessible all year long.
1. Open a Sparkler for No Reason - There are so many reasonably priced bubblies that they can be cheaper than ordinary wine. Put a bottle in the fridge and open it for dinner.
2. Drink More White Wine with Cheese - I've discovered that white wine generally tastes better with most cheeses than red; acidity does the trick. My favorite combination is goat cheese and a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.
3. Go to a Wine Bar - If you have been to some wine bars before, try a wine bar you haven’t visited and order a flight of wine.
4. Take Notes on a Fine Wine - You'll find that the wine will change with time, air and warmth. When you go back over your notes, you might be amazed at the changes.
5. Stop Holding Back "Great" Bottles - I'm as guilty as anyone of saving wines instead of enjoying them. Without waiting for a special occasion, invite friends over and open some of those gems you've got stashed away for.
6. Visit a Local Winery - You’ll be amazed at the diversity of wines and styles in your own neck of the woods.
7. Try Different Wines - There are more than 5,000 grape varieties in the world, but many of us drink the same one, or ones, week after week (the equivalent of eating chicken every night).
8. Try a Wine You Think You Don’t Like - Are you sure you don’t like German wine? Have you tried today’s Chianti? Things change, including your taste.
9. Order the Least Expensive Wine on the List- This takes courage, but I've found that many restaurant wine buyers work hard at finding great deals. And the opposite applies as well, go above your usual limit for wine if there is a bottle that looks interesting to you.
10. Enroll in a Wine Appreciation Class - Taking a wine class can be a fun, unintimidating way to learn more about wine. Whether you take a class on the basics or one with a narrower focus, you'll learn something new and have fun in the process. To get started consider one of the following; Wine Tasting 101 on 2/4 at www.walnutcreekrec.org or Wine & Chocolate Pairing on 2/19 at www.lafayetterec.org.
Extra Credit - If you have never dropped me a note to say hello or ask a question, don’t be shy. My email address is wineappreciation101@gmail.com. I'll do my best to get back to you promptly. Happy New Year!
