The Wine Guy

I have a new wine review and pairing for tomorrow, but first I wanted to talk to you about your best resource for finding good wines: the wine guy.

For those of you would-be wine enthusiasts, I highly recommend finding a respectable “wine guy” (or girl, whatever) and forming a relationship with them. It may mean venturing out to an actual wine retail establishment, but it is worth it. As expensive as wine is, you really don’t want to waste your money. Believe me, there are some really good wines that cost about what some really bad wines cost. Also-since the relationship between wine and food is magical-you really want the advice of someone who knows which wines are going to compliment your dish and which will really clash with it. Talk to different people and make an effort to find the one who makes you feel comfortable.

Some thing I have liked about wine guys we’ve dealt with:

1. I love it when they describe my palate as “delicate” when what they really mean is nonexistent and/or immature. Frankly, I love it when any part of me is described as delicate.
2. I appreciate it when they don’t correct my use of words like “watery” or “rich” even when it becomes obvious we aren’t talking about the same thing.
3. I like it when they don’t waste my time on wines that won’t do. When I stop and say, “what about this-?” they just say “No.” and keep walking toward the specific bottle they have in mind based on the criteria I gave them.
4. Good wine guys/girls don’t judge my wine choices or my budget. If I tell them how much I can spend they should be able to find me a delicious wine in that price range. Even when its $6.
5. A good wine guy should be able to find the perfect wines for you based on the preferences you give them, not just the wines they like.
6. Try to find liquor/wine groceries that also specialize in exotic fruits, cheeses, chocolate, etc… These people will be able to come up with some amazing pairings that should give you the confidence to try things you’ve never had, or never enjoyed, before.
7. Most important: the person you are entrusting this decision to should be enthusiastic. When you are with someone who is as excited about wine as you are, their eyes will light up when they think of the perfect wine for you. Their excitement and enthusiasm should be infectious.

I also require wine guys with the knowledge and patience to translate my gibberish into proper tasting notes. Do you have any good tips for talking to someone about wine?