Let Loose in the Candy Store:

Ever have the experience of walking into one of larger national wine retail shops and just feeling overwhelmed?  Even for those of us well versed in world of wine, it can ignite a sense of hyperventilation followed by desperation and impulsivity to grab any bottle off the shelf with an “expert” rating of 90 or above.  Somehow, your brain is just certain that if you miss that special wine, it will disappear from sight forever.  Can’t you just hear the voice: “don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity.  Order now before it’s too late!!”  Lucky for you, we are in a buyers market.  Chances are that that wine WILL reappear somewhere and soon.  In fact these days, under the cloud of a fractured economy, nearly EVERY wine will be available and likely discounted as well.  So where do you begin?  How do you determine what wines to buy as you launch your collection?  Whether a novice or budding collector destined for the auction hall of fame, there are a few tactics that will assist you in making some sense of the process.  First up…..the education.

Educate Your Mind, Educate Your Palate:

For me, wine education will be lifelong process that began some 15 years ago and has just continued to gain momentum.  The more I read, the more I integrate the expertise of knowledgeable wine sources.  The more I taste and test, the more I understand my palate and the more logical my wine decisions (at least most of the time).  No surprise here………the more educated your mind, the more informed your decisions.

These days, there are any number of local, national and international wine publications, both hard copy and internet based, that offer an unlimited supply of wine information for all levels of wine consumers.  Personally, I subscribe to several and find them to be accurate, informative and instructive.  As well, there are wine books offering expertise in nearly any subtopic from wine growing regions to how to purchase and taste wine to wine “terroirs” to how to make your own wine.  As you build the foundation of your wine knowledge, you will be shocked at the doors (and bottles) it opens.  For example, on investigating Chardonnays, you may come to discover that the origin is actually Burgundy; this knowledge may lead you to read and understand the luscious whites of that region.  Or perhaps you love Sauvignon Blanc but have sampled only those from California.  Do you know that the modern day origin of these wonderful wines is the Loire Valley region of France?  Would it surprise you that the wine from the two regions have different profiles?  See what I mean?  The more you read, the more you want to read………….and then of course……….taste.

Speaking of tasting, there is just no substitute to tasting the wine.  You can build your educational base and read about wine profiles, but in the end, your palate has the verdict.  After all, isn’t the goal of wine education to educate your palate? Fortunately for you, there are wine education sessions and tastings ongoing weekly in Tucson (some of which you can find in our Localwineevents.com).  This is the ideal opportunity to sample varietals from alternative wine regions.  If you’re fortunate, the host might even pair some of the wines with food.  In time, you will likely discover that certain wine associated aromas and flavors are more agreeable to your nose and palate than others, thus leading you to accumulate those wines in your collection.  For example, you might find that you more enjoy the pure fruit of the Burgundy version of Chardonnay rather than the buttery and oaked California style.  So go ahead and taste, whether it be at home, at a spirit store or restaurant and educate your palate.

Finally, use the browsing experience at your local retail wine store to add to your education.  Whether speaking to the support staff, browsing any written descriptions of the wines offered by the retailer, reading the back of the wine bottle (which sometimes offers very informative information) or tasting the wines, you’re apt to pick up a tidbit or two…………… so go explore!

Resourcing The Wine):

Establishing and grooming a trustworthy professional relationship with a local wine retailer is a must, especially if you are a beginner.  He or she can be invaluable in steering you to wines that match your palate (and your budget which is discussed in the following section).  Choose a professional that you feel comfortable with, one who is willing to help you understand YOUR taste preferences in wine.  Look for him or her to share their wine knowledge with you, as well, but in a non pressuring environment.  Is there anything more annoying and uncomfortable than a pressuring salesperson?  And look for special courtesies.  Is the retailer willing to open a bottle for tasting?  Does he or she take the time to alert you of new and interesting wines that may intrigue your palate and wallet?  You deserve some education and special treatment if you are offering to part with hard earned dollars.  One last note, use your trusty retailer as a core but not the only source.  There will come a time when he or she is unable to accommodate your wine wishes and you will have to search elsewhere.  Don’t be shy about asking for alternative suggestions.  If your retailer is professional, he or she will steer you on.

The Budget:

Your budget is the single determining factor in how many wines you can purchase at a given time.  Do you spread it out over many wines or just a few?  And how do you decide?  These are great questions to explore and will vary depending upon the stage of your collection.  For now, let’s stay with the theme of the novice collector.

While “the kid in the candy store” may be tempted to plunk down a large portion of the allotted budget on one or two highly rated, profiled and pricey wines, there are drawbacks to this strategy.  Let’s supposed you have $500 with which to start your collection. You have just discovered two highly rated wines just waiting to be scooped up.  These wines are guaranteed “collectibles.”  You’re tickled to have discovered these gems and on a moment’s notice, ready take the plunge and pay $100 for one and $125 for the other.  How fortunate, you think, to be able to add these to your newborn collection.  To take this one step further, let’s assume that these wines are young, that is, barely a few years old and need several years of aging in order to reach their full flavor potential.  You have just laid out $225 or nearly one half of your budget on two wines that will not reach their drinking potential for several years.  That leaves you with $275 to spread over the batch of everyday wines that you targeted to sample as a part of your wine education.  Let’s say that the average price of those everyday wines is $20, earning you about 13 bottles.  Not bad, except that if you had sacrificed the two gems, you could have purchased 25 bottles.  If you are a novice collector, you have cut your education short.  Give yourself the chance to test and taste as many varietals as possible early on.  Not only will you be amazed at the nearly endless variations in aromas and flavors, but more importantly, you will learn which styles are more appealing to you and in turn, which you may wish to add to your future collection.  As for those more highly coveted wines, those  “must haves,” trust me when I tell you that you will surely revisit them at a later date.

Time to Make the Purchases:

OK……….your budget is set, you have your potential retail source(s) and it’s time to start the collection.  So how do you decide which wine varietals to start with?  Well, by this time, you have done some reading, spoken to knowledgeable wine sources and more than likely tasted several wine varietals; all of this culminating in your formula of which wines to purchase.

In the reds, maybe you are taken with Spain’s Rioja wines (mostly Tempranillo or blends) or the Rhone Grenache and Syrah.  Or how about some wonderful Italian Chianti or Barbera to pair with my favorite food group……..pizza!  In the white category, perhaps the steely, grassy gooseberry fruit of the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc appeals to you, a fabulous everyday wine match with green salads, vegetables or shellfish.  Or how about a classic oaky and buttery California Chardonnay with waves of tropical fruit?  The point here is that you likely already have a feel for a few of varietals that you would like to place in your starter collection.  For the sake of argument, let’s say that your palate is open to reds and whites.  You have decided that you will purchase a Spanish Rioja, a Southern Rhone, an Argentinean Malbec, a Chianti, an Oregon Pinot Noir and a California Cabernet Sauvignon.  In the white category, let’s go for a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a California Chardonnay, a Spanish Albarino (which will give you the chance to taste a Spanish red and white as part of your collection), an Australian Riesling from the Clare Valley, a Vin Soave from Italy, and for fun, how about a Champagne, which by the way doesn’t have to be for celebrations only (ever consider a Champagne with oysters, sushi or Chinese food?).  If you have a little cash left over, use it to add another bottle or put it toward the next “investment.”  By the way, if your palate is not yet adjusted to the tannins of the heavier reds, think about the lighter and less tannic red wines such as Beaujolais, a light Pinot Noir or even a Rose.  The important point here is to start with a collection that reflects your tastes.  Next up………how to store your collection and more……

Tags: (wine) publication, (wine) purchases, budget, collection, collector, palate, Wine Education, wine retailer