Q: Help! I know nothing about wine. I don’t really want to go on a course or read complicated books. How do I find a nice bottle of wine?
A: First the good news; the overall quality of wine is probably as high as it has ever been. Most wines, even the very cheapest, are unlikely to be undrinkable (although some may taste a little dilute or sweet and confected). Now the bad news; because of the extortionate excise duties raised on wine in this country, the best value wines are not the cheapest. If you are prepared to pay €12-€25 for a bottle you will get a much more interesting and enjoyable wine.
The key to finding great bottles is to work out what style of wine you like. Lighter wines, both red and white, are typically lower in alcohol and with fresh light fruit. Bigger wines have more alcohol and are rich and heavy in the mouth. Medium-bodied wines are somewhere between the two; rounded and fruity.
Here are seven tips that will help you find your perfect bottle.
1. Look at the alcohol level
All wines must have the alcohol level on the label. Any wine that is 13 per cent abv or lower should be light and juicy. A wine that has 14 per cent abv or more will be big and powerful. As our tastes change, producers are making are far more wines at 13 per cent.
2. Look at the grape variety
Many wines, including most non-European wines, will have a grape variety on the label. This should give you a good indication as to the style of wine in the bottle. Sauvignon blanc, albariño, and riesling are three widely available, light white wines. Chardonnay and viognier are usually richer. Pinot noir, blaufränkisch and gamay are three lighter red wines, while malbec and shiraz tend to be higher in alcohol and more full-bodied.
3. Look at the region
Many European wines don’t have a grape variety on the label, but the region can be a good indicator. White wines such as Vinho Verde, Soave, Muscadet and Picpoul de Pinet, or reds such as Beaujolais, Valpolicella, or Bourgogne are typically light, while Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Amarone, Vacqueyras and Saint-Émilion tend to be higher in alcohol and sometimes dry tasting too.
4. Go for a rosé or an appassimento
Two safe bets; most rosé wines are light, refreshing and dry. Red wines labelled appassimento are usually rich and full-bodied.
5. Think as you drink
The easiest and most pleasurable route to finding wines you like is to remember previous wines you enjoyed, and those you didn’t. Take a picture on your phone of every bottle you buy and write a simple comment such as nice, awful or delicious.
6. Ask for help
Most shops are staffed by knowledgeable people who will be happy to assist you. Go in armed with the names of one or two of your favourites and ask for similar wines from other regions. Don’t forget to tell them how much you want to pay.
7. Ignore unwanted advice
The world is full of snobs, experts and wine companies who want to make wine more complicated than it needs to be. Enjoy the wine you like and ignore unwanted advice. You should also be wary of fancy labels and cute bottles.
