How to Navigate a Wine Store
The dos and don'ts of wine buying
Treat it like a barbershop. Stay loyal to one store and befriend a clerk who knows about the wines you like, says Gary Vaynerchuk, director of operations at the Wine Library in Springfield, New Jersey, and host of Wine Library TV. Once the clerk understands your tastes, your options will become endless. Here are a few other dos and don’ts.
Don’t . . . Buy the label
“Labels are designed by marketing companies who know how to trick you into buying juice that doesn’t pack the thunder,” says Vaynerchuk. Playful labels, critters, and cartoons are major warning signs. Also be wary of red or yellow labels, which are designed to stand out.
Do . . . Double-check the ratings card
Often, wine shops post ratings for the wrong year. How much can the quality of wine vary from year to year? A ton. “Most 2000 California cabernets are just average wines,” says Vaynerchuk, “but the 2001 vintage is exceptional.”
Don’t . . . Choose from a display near the counter
Chances are, they’re trying to unload wines that didn’t sell as well as expected or are aging quickly, says Vaynerchuk. Either way, these won’t be among the best bottles in the store.
How to order wine in a restaurant
When handed a wine menu that’s in Italian—or may as well be—don’t try to fake it. Mention a wine you like and ask the waiter to recommend a bottle. When he pours you a glass, it’s not to see if you like it. It’s to see if the wine is flawed. You’ll know just by smelling it. If it’s “corked,” it’ll smell like cardboard or wet paper. Just smell it and, if it’s fine, get on with your dinner.
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01 Jun 2009, 15:03