Wine Tasting for Dummies

OK, well, not dummies - but amateurs anyway. The New Jersey Star-Ledger wine writer TJ Foderaro has a column out today on how newbies to the wine world can navigate a tasting. I think it's great, since tastings are one of the easiest (and most affordable) ways to expose yourself to new varietals, as well as to be led by an expert. It's a way to find out what you like, what you don't like and to have a person on hand to explain - most importantly - why you feel that way. If you're not quite ready to venture out to the wine shop for a public tasting, he also provides some nice advice on how to set up a tasting of your own at home.

From the column:

"If you've ever sat in on a professional wine tasting, you know they can be intimidating affairs. People sit quietly in front of a dozen or so glasses, studiously sniffing, sipping and scribbling notes about the "nose," "mouthfeel" and "finish." While wine geeks might want to try this at home, I strongly recommend a less formal approach. All you need, really, is several types of wine and a glass for each person. It's also nice to put out a little cheese or other nibbles so your guests can try matching the wine and food. The big question when planning a wine tasting is what wines to buy, and how much."