Where are you on the wine scale?

Ever wonder where you fit in when it comes wine? Everyone has to start somewhere, so here’s a lighthearted guide to give you an opportunity to see where you are in the world of wine and some suggestions on how to expand your grape experiences.
You are a beginner if:
You drink one type and one brand of wine.
You know white wine should be chilled.
You have one-word descriptions for the wine you’re drinking, such as sweet or dry.
You think that chardonnay is a brand of wine.
You think that white zinfandel is made from white grapes.
You know legs and nose only as body parts.
You drink white zinfandel and lambrusco.
The great thing about wine is there are no wrong answers. It’s all about personal choice. If you like what you’re drinking now, stick with it. If you’d like to grow your taste and knowledge, here are some suggestions:
Try these: If you are drinking white zinfandel, try Riesling. If Lambrusco is your drink of choice, try a grenache or a syrah. Try different brands of those wines, and give them more than one chance. Many wines are meant to be drunk with food and will taste totally different with a meal.
So try them both ways.
Read and learn the basics: Pick up “Wine for Dummies” by McCarthy and Ewing or “The Wine Club” by Maureen Christian Petrosky.
Visit: Go to area tasting rooms during non-peak times. Visiting the local wineries in our area is a no-brainer, but try to go during off-season or at hours when you don’t think other people will be there. You won’t feel rushed and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions one-on-one with people that know the wine intimately.
You’re at an Intermediate level if:
You know, and have tasted, at least four different wine varietals, that include chardonnay, pinot grigio, merlot, and (red) zinfandel.
You know that Nebbiolo is not a pasta dish (it’s a grape).
You know that Chablis and Chianti are wine regions, not wine brands.
You know that the term “barnyard” pertaining to wine doesn’t mean a farm.
You know that swirling the wine in the glass is important and not just a nervous habit.
You drink chardonnay and zinfandel.
WHAT NOW?
If you like a couple different varietals, mix up the regions. If you are drinking pinot noirs from Mendocino in California, try them from the central coast or Oregon.
Learn from each glass: Take the time to go through your senses when drinking wine, using sight, smell, and taste. It will help you to enjoy the wine that much more.
Read more: “Wine” by Joanna Simon, “Great Wines Made Simple” by Andrea Immer, “Windows on the World Complete Wine Course” by Kevin Zraly and “Adventures on the Wine Route” by Kermit Lynch.
Subscribe to at least one wine publication such as the Wine Spectator or Wine Enthusiast and make the commitment to read at least the lead article each month.
You are an advanced enthusiast if:
You have at least five cases of wine in your possession at all times.
You know the difference in taste between soft and harsh tannins.
You think mixing a first-growth Bordeaux with seltzer is a criminal offense that deserves jail time.
You have tasted international wines beyond France, Italy and Australia.
You can identify the origins of wines by taste.
You understand that the length of the finish is a key component in the quality of a wine.
You drink Meursault and Bordeaux.
You realize that wine can be an obsession.
STILL MORE TO LEARN:
You already know a lot, however no one can ever know everything because wines, wine trends and wine markets are constantly changing. So continue to challenge yourself. For instance add another element: include a mystery wine to taste blind (without seeing labels or revealing what you are about to drink) at your get-togethers. It can be a rewarding and humbling experience.
Add to your library: You are already reading Wine Spectator, so add Decanter magazine to get other perspectives. Subscribe to Jancis Robinson’s Web site. Your book collection should include “Wine Lover’s Companion” by Herbst and Herbst, “The Wine Bible” by Karen MacNeil and “The Oxford Companion to Wine,” by Jancis Robinson.
Get the goods: Buy good wine glasses such as those from Riedel. You might not use them every day, but you’ll want them for special wines.
Wine vacations: On your next vacation, look for wine experiences. Perhaps a bike trip through Tuscany, or a river-barge trip through France. There are numerous destinations that can combine wine with other interests and activities.
A world of wine: Don’t get in a rut with one or two wine regions. Try different wines and varietals at every opportunity.
The Basics that every wine drinker should know:
Hold the glass correctly: When drinking wine, you should hold the stem part of the glass so the heat from your hand doesn’t warm up the wine in the glass.
Chill it right: Serving wines at the wrong temperature really affects the aroma and the flavor. Too cold or too warm isn’t good. White wines should be served at 55-62 F, and red wines at 62-65 F. No need to go out and buy a fancy thermometer – just keep practicing and tasting.
Sideways: If you are going to keep a wine that has a cork closure for a period of time, it should be kept on its side. This helps to keep the cork from drying out, which in turn will keep air out that can spoil the wine.
To fridge or not? Don’t keep your cork-closure wines in the refrigerator for more than a few days. This dries the cork out, making it brittle, which in turn can allow air in the bottle. It can also cause the cork to break when you are trying to remove it.
Dining out? If you want to try new wines, be open to recommendations; however, don’t feel pressured into something that doesn’t sound appealing to you. Remember life’s too short to drink bad wine and current statistics state at least one bottle in every 12 is corked or flawed. If you order a glass of wine or buy a bottle and it doesn’t taste right, send it back. You’re paying for it, and it should meet your expectations.
Most importantly don’t forget the number-one rule in wine drinking. Wine is subjective. Listen to your taste buds and drink what you like.