Where to get started.

Wine is confusing. Good wine is sometimes only a little different than not-so-good wine...to some people. To a novice or a person that has not had a great deal of experience with tasting wines systematically or in search of certain elements and characterstics,  not knowing what to look for may mean that many wines are indistinguishable from each other.  I once had someone tell me they liked to put ice in their red wine and but were afraid to do it in public because they are well aware you're not "supposed" to do that. Now there is lots of advice out there telling people to enjoy wine however they can; put ice or soda in it, etc. But I'm of the opinion that if you're altering the qualities of the wine you're drinking to that degree then you simply haven't found the wines you like yet. I started with the big heavy, mass produced stuff. Most people have. But then as I got to try more and more wines I began to notice there was a certain quality that got my attention and appealed to me and when that quality wasn't there, I found myself not enjoying the wine nearly as much. Now, this was about 30 years ago and my preferences and tastes have changed several times since then. At 51, I don't enjoy the big overbearing Cabernet Sauvignons and Shiraz wines the way I used to. I went through a light wine phase too where it was all Pinot Noir and Dolcetto for a while there. And then there was a long run of whites and rosés. Now I'm all about the wines of the north-west of Italy. It's a process. And it's fun. 
How about you? Is there something you enjoy about certain wines that others don't seem to have? It can be a certain bite, or a fizz, or the way the wine makes your mouth water, or even dry out. Do you enjoy the physical weight of full-bodied wines, or the refreshing lightness of simpler wines? Does a certain bouquet, or fragrance, appeal to you more than another? Italian wines run a full spectrum of all weights, levels of tannins and acidity, price points, and suitability to every meal and every season. Let's narrow our focus with this blog and concentrate on Italian wine grapes and styles what makes them special. Have fun and contact me whenever you'd like.