Tasted Any Great Wines Lately?

What have you tasted lately that you are excited about? It’s a great question to ask a wine professional—especially one who knows a bit about your personal taste.

There are many ways to learn about wine. The Internet allows us to explore any topic in detail. Wine appreciation, however, is always taken to a greater level of understanding when there is interaction—with both wine and people. That’s why it’s great to develop a relationship with a sales consultant at a local wine shop who knows your likes and dislikes.

Over the weekend, I paid a visit to one of my favorite wine shops, Central Liquors located at 8 Reaville Ave in Flemington, to see the wine buyer. We have talked about wine enough for him to know what I like. On this occasion, I told him I was looking for a few white wines that fit my palate in a $10-$20 per bottle range. I popped the question: “What have you tasted lately that you are excited about.”

My friend told me about three wines in particular, all from regions we are more likely to think of as red wine producers. The wines were an Assyritiko from Santorini, Greece; a Godello from Valdeorras, Spain; and a Pinot Bianco from Alto Adige in Italy. These are three wines I would not have chosen without his advice.
If you have not already done so, I urge you to identify a wine shop that you feel comfortable with and start to engage one of the sales consultants in a conversation about what memorable wines they have had lately. If they fit your style and budget, your level of wine enjoyment and appreciation will grow quickly.

This week’s guest blog is by George Staikos, noted educator and founder of The Educated Grape, a company dedicated to interactive wine classes, tastings and special events.

Tags: Flemington | Wine