Want to Dabble in Wine Tasting? There Is No Need to Deal with Snobs.

So you watch food shows on TV, and see snooty sommeliers and famous chefs pair expensive wines with dishes that you can’t pronounce, but the thought of putting together a delicious dinner with a wine, that will actually compliment it, is enticing.

You don’t need a fancy degree, or special training to taste wine, and figure out what it will be good with.  Just try a variety of wines, and pay attention to how they taste, what you like and don’t like, and either try them with food occasionally, or just think about what they might taste good with.  There really are no right or wrong answers.  Smell and taste each wine, and respect your own thoughts about it.  Period.  You will be the one drinking it, after all.

To learn about wine, you will need to try some variety.  Drinking the same wine, you have for the past few years, won’t do it.  This is where a good wine club can come in handy.

I have had the opportunity to try several shipments from The California Wine Club, and have enjoyed the experience each time.  Some shipments had wines I adored while others were good, but not quite as exciting to me personally.  That being said, the wines have always been of good quality, and unique in taste.  Always, well worth a taste, and the information about the winemakers, as well as the wines themselves, that can be found in the magazine that comes with each shipment is both educational and entertaining.

The most recent shipment I received featured two selections from the Three Saints winery, their 2010 Chardonnay and Steak House Red.   Here are the high points of my personal thoughts on these wines.

The Three Saints 2010 Chardonnay had a scent of apples and pears, but strong citrus flavor.  The citrus and acid in this one are very evident, so this would be a good wine to have on hand for seafood, pork or chicken dishes, that have a lot of fat.  This wine would cut through it.

Three Saints 2009 Steak House Red Wine was more my kind of wine (I have been on a red kick lately).  The nose (scent) of this wine was rich in berries, and had a hint of smoke.  As I drank it, one flavor really impressed itself on me, blueberries (not what the “pros” say, but I will own it).  This wine is perfect for grilling season, as it would pair great with a nice juicy steak.

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Media samples provided.  All experiences and opinions presented here are my own.