Tips for Buying Wine for the First Time

If you're buying wine for the first time, you can easily become confused by the many options available in the market—there are many styles from regions across the globe, and finding the right one suited for you isn't always an easy feat. Whether you have an idea on what to purchase or you're clueless as to what suits your taste buds, you may wish to consider these tips when buying wine for the first time:

Locate a Good Wine Shop

As a first-timer wine buyer, you might just head to the nearest grocery store. Although that can be a good idea, it's typically best to find a good local wine shop. Wine shops can be a little intimidating, but the staff are knowledgeable about the different kinds of wine like single varietal wine and can guide you throughout the selection process. Most employees at wine shops are willing to give recommendations or suggestions. So, give your local shops a few visits and try several bottles to get a sense of its style of wines and customer service until you've found a place that suits you. And don't be afraid to ask the staff for help if you feel stumped.

Look at More Than Just the Price

Typically, you would assume an expensive wine is better than a cheap one. However, you can't guarantee that paying more will provide you something that tastes great unless you have an idea of what you're purchasing. Never hesitate to ask a wine shop worker for recommendations based on what you prefer and your budget. If you're ordering online, look for wine stores that offer hand-picked and quality wines. Since the prices frequently differ from one retailer to another, it's essential to compare the prices. If you have your heart set on a particular wine, check different shops for their costs. If you're browsing, make a note of the prices and check somewhere else.

Insist on Quality

While quality wine isn't cheap, a high price doesn't guarantee that one wine is really much better than a more affordable option. One of the basic tips you should know is that many quality wines are quite affordable. So, how can you tell if a wine is of good quality? First and foremost, you have to consider how complex the wine is—other than the primary flavor, it should have hints of other flavors. Another thing to consider is the intensity of the wine, which refers to how easily you can identify a flavor. Quality red wine should be well balanced so that that all flavors are balanced properly. An excellent way to buy the best wine is to try the varieties available. The trick is finding the wine with a good balance of acidity and fruitiness that suits your preferences. Red wines typically have more body than white wines; so if you want something fruitier, you can try a red. If you want a crisper flavor, you may favor a white.

Read the Label

A wine label should provide you with helpful information. Every bottle of wine must have a brand name and other information such as net content, alcohol content, government warning, and sulfite declaration. While all of those details are crucial, some of these might not be as useful when deciding which wine to buy. Apart from style, the region where the wine is manufactured is also vital. While you might have made your mind up on a Sauvignon blanc, you might prefer the one made from California compared to New Zealand. So, feel free to experiment with similar kinds of wine that are from different years and regions to determine which one is the best fit for you. When a vineyard harvests its grapes, its fully matured grapes go into the wine's primary batch, which vineyard owners call their first label. Such wines are the ones connoisseurs praise, but they're typically available only in limited quantities and can be costly. And if you're just getting started and not confident in what wines you like, the price tag can be hard to justify. Thus, second-label wines can be an excellent alternative to expensive first label bottles. As vineyards pursue perfection when it comes to winemaking, they become selective in the grapes they're using for their first label. With that in mind, more grapes might not be as polished or mature don't make the cut. Instead of selling the grapes or throwing them out, vineyards put them through a winemaking process that's identical to the first label but then sell them under a second label. Since these wines come from the same vineyards, the second labels still provide a taste of quality wine, just at a more affordable price.

Have Respect to Age

Older reds tend to have more robust flavors and aromas. If your purchasing decision comes down to the wine's age, go for the older label. While the best wine for you depends on your preferences, you'll develop that palette over time. You can determine your favorite after tasting a wide variety of options. You want to purchase red wines that are intense, balanced, and complex. If you like to drink wine as soon as you get home, ask the store owner or staff, What's drinking well now? Asking questions doesn't mean you're dumb; rather, it actually makes you smart. When buying wines, mainly white wines, take note that they should be consumed young. For most wines, buying a wine that's manufactured in 2018 and drinking it in 2021 is totally normal. However, most red wines, particularly those made in European countries, are optimal after a long resting period.

It's no doubt challenging to buy wine as a first-timer. The process can be both confusing and frustrating. But, with the above tips, you can be assured that you'll find the perfect wine that matches your tastes and preferences. Just remember that the best wine isn't all about the price and quality—sometimes it's just about what you like. So, make sure to shop around and try as many wines as possible to choose the right one.