Becoming a wine expert is not as hard as you might think. What you will need, apart from sheer enthusiasm, is a combination of some straight forward wine skills. These come in the form of an ability to decipher and provide accurate tasting notes, read and fully understand wine labels and at least know what countries around the world produce wines.

First of all, pick your niche such as New World reds, oak-aged Chardonnays or Bordeaux wines (start with what you know or like best) – the list is limitless, so you can start anywhere you like. Then visit your local wine store, and have a good look at as many wines as possible in your selected niche. The staff in the wine store will usually be very helpful showing you how to select wines with certain aromas and flavours, as well as which varieties pair well with which foods. Also keep an eye out for alcohol levels – a high alcohol wine may not always be desirable.

A few pointers to keep in mind:

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Have you ever been to one-of-those-parties where you’re stuck with an old geyser in a corner who keeps mouthing about the flamboyance of his buttery, oaky Chardonnay?

Or the time when your date looks you deep in the eye and reminisces about the 1989 Château Haut-Brion that she sipped on during her study abroad program in

Bordeaux? All you can do at that juncture is smile back and say, “Really? That is fascinating do tell more..” while secretly hoping to hear answers to questions such as where the heck is Bordeaux? Is Château blah-blah a white or red wine? Do I care? Is this date over if I don’t say something?

Wine has perplexed novices and experts alike through the years. The battle of the Old world versus the New and the fact that anyone can grow wine in their backyard hasn’t helped simplify things. Sure you took a class or two at the local wine store or wined-and-dined with Oenophiles all through your twenties. I would have to admit that ignorance was a mighty bliss before I started working in the wine business. The less I knew, the more I thought I knew. Did I have to worry about the oakiness of Chardonnay or the grassy, citrus notes of Sauvignon Blanc? Did you know that ‘Extra Dry’ in a Champagne really means fruity or sweet? (I can be crucified for using that word in wine circles, there is no such thing as a sweet wine unless its designated sweet due to special handling of certain grapes. Note to self: use fruity or fruit-forward).

I have put together the 5 most commonly used wine descriptors. These were the stumpers in my early work days. I hope you enjoy and benefit from them!

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An interesting buy from the myriad of items in our shopping list must be to buy wine. Whether it is your local supermarket, an exclusive wine retailer or an online store to buy wine online, you are sure to get a good fermented grape treat that soothes your palate while you dine. While you still have the habit of buying wine from your favorite land-based outlet, you might want to experiment with online shopping for it. It can be a delightful change to have to recline in your chair, go through the long list of wine choices represented in websites that let you buy wine online and just wait for the wine to arrive at your door step. While buying the wine in person lets you judge the aroma of the wine, buying online is no different either. Let us have a look at some of the reasons why to buy wine online is more than just convenient. One thing is for sure, you are going to be hooked to this trend as soon as you find this is no different from buying the right in wine stores.

Here are some of the reasons why people are choosing online shopping of over physical tours to wine shops in the vicinity.

- Websites that let you buy wine are plenty and depending on your own leisurely schedule you may choose to have a quick look around through all the websites that offer the best in town.

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