jamie goode's wine blog: The best way to learn about wine

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The best way to learn about wine

I was thinking today about the best way to learn about wine. I'd travelled down to Devon to see my son (he's boarding at school) and attend a meeting. After the formalities were over we went together to a coffee shop for some hot chocolate, an then popped in to a record shop on the high street.

Now this place is about as far away as you can get from HMV. It is run by someone who's clearly a music enthusiast, and as well as carrying the latest chart items it has a display section of mid-priced classics. I've bought a few things here before, so this time I asked for advice. The shop owner was really helpful, and I came out with Joni Mitchell's Blue. I'm embarassed I don't already know her stuff, but this is a really brilliant album.

There's so much music out there, how do you choose what to listen to? Which new avenues should you explore? What are the 'benchmarks'? It's a similar problem faced by the newbie wine drinker. While modern retail offers amazing selections at amazingly keen prices, it's difficult to know where to start.

A shop, properly run by an enthusiast whose main drive is passion for the product, has to be the best place. If you have a local wine merchant with a good range and staff who care, then that's surely the best way to learn about wine. Of course, I think you should be making good use of critics and writers - and websites like this - but then there's the issue of finding the wines that are being talked about.

If you have a good merchant, use them, and be prepared to pay slightly more for the wine than the cheapest price on wine-searcher. You are getting, in the price of the bottle, the benefit of a relationship that could be your best means of discovering new wines, tailored to your palate and interests. That's got to be worth something.

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10 Comments:

At 5:09 AM, Blogger Colman Stephenson said...

Very true.

I learnt a ton from Stuart and co atCity Beverage on Old Street near Hoxton Square, London.

http://citybeverage.co.uk/

Perfectly informal interesting Fridy night tastings provided the perfect, unscary opportunity to taste and learn.

Makes me wish I didn't move to San Francisco

(Disclaimer: no commercial relationship. This is an honest recommendation).

 
At 11:32 AM, Blogger Dan McGrew said...

One of her two best albums. I really like 'I Wish I Had a River."

 
At 12:44 PM, Anonymous Tim Carlisle said...

There's a cafe in North Oxford that is really a wine bar that often have decent wine and people behind the bar who can tell you a bit about the wines too.

If you pay a few quid they'll do a personal tasting of about 10 wines - I learned a bit there although I'm always a little concerned by one bloke who works there who makes funny claims that are well away from the truth.

 
At 2:57 PM, Blogger EvWg said...

very cool.

I absolutely agree!

I have had a wine blog for going on five years now and this year was the first time I really had passionate ideas for wine in 2009.

The main one was developing a relationship with a wine merchant to learn more about wine.

The post is called: A WINE BLOGGER'S IDES FOR WINE IN '09

http://www.winegeeknyc.com/

Cheers!

 
At 4:53 PM, Blogger Chris Townend said...

Couldn't agree more Jamie. In my opinion what you need to if you want to learn about win is:
(1) an interest in taste
(2) to enjoy a drink
(3) a like-minded group of friends
(4) curiosity

It is this last point which, I think, captures the key theme of your post- just talk to people! Ask questions and be interested in what what they are doing. Anyone who has the commitment and passion for running a vintners must want to talk about wine. It is after all their raison d'etre and what gets them out of bed on a morning.

 
At 8:38 PM, Blogger Stevo said...

Ah, music and wine, my two great passions. As a failed rock guitarist and born-again wine enthusiast I couldn't agree more!

If anyone is interested, my (rather amateurish compared to Jamie's)wine blog is www.fineforwine.blogspot.com

 
At 11:40 PM, Anonymous Leon Stolarski said...

Music and wine.... mee too! (Along with golf, football and other sports).

Blue is a classic album and one of Joni's very finest. Although her best (i.e. most creative) days are certainly long gone, her 2000 release "Both Sides Now" is a cracker, with a line-up of old "standards" and a couple of re-workings of her own songs (including "A Case Of You" from the aforementioned "Blue"). Intricate arrangements, lush orchestration, fantastic choice of songs and a voice deepened to a gravelly baritone by a million cigarettes make for a joyous listen.

 
At 12:08 PM, Anonymous Alast said...

I have found several chain shops like Majestic, Wine Rack and even Nicolas have quite knowledgable managers.

 
At 12:08 PM, Anonymous Alast said...

I have found several chain shops like Majestic, Wine Rack and even Nicolas have quite knowledgable managers.

 
At 2:41 PM, Blogger king bing said...

Blue is a great album - her best for me. I once saw a review that said it was like Joni was singing to the listener only, such was the intimacy.

But, have you ever heard Nazareth's cover of This Flight Tonight?! It's different.

 

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