New Years Resolutions for Wine Drinkers

New Years resolutions for wine drinkers? Absolutely! Many of us seem to fall into a routine with our wine purchases so this is the perfect opportunity reevaluate our past buying decisions and perhaps make a few changes for the coming year. Here are a few suggestions:

Try something different. Many wine drinkers have a favorite wine such as Chardonnay or Merlot and won’t try anything else. Some even go so far as to drink the same wine from the same vineyard nullno matter what the occasion. Be a little adventurous this year. If you prefer sweeter white wines, try something a little drier like a Pinot Gris or a Viognier. If you never touch red wines start with a lighter style Pinot Noir and work your way up to something fuller bodied.

Avoid the “pretty label” trap. When shopping for wines, read the label instead of just selecting something with flashy packaging. Many wines give you hints about fruit flavors, acidity and sweetness levels, oak aging and food pairing suggestions right on the label. Take advantage of this information before making your purchase.

Break the self-imposed price barrier. $10 a bottle seems to be the magic barrier for some wine drinkers. Anything priced above it is considered to cost too much. Higher prices don’t always equate with better quality, but why limit yourself to wines in a certain price range when there’s so much to choose from? Expand your wine tasting horizons by spending a few dollars more.

Educate yourself. Take wine classes, go to wine festivals and visit wineries. If that’s considered too much hassle, organize a wine tasting party with friends where you can sample a variety of wines and exchange opinions. It’s a fun and relatively low cost way to experience several different wines at one sitting.

Cheers and Happy New Year!

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