How to Develop a Beginner’s Wine Preferences

Paul Generale is the executive vice president at Christus Health in Dallas, Texas, with over five years in the role. Among his variety of pass times, Paul Generale is interested in wine.

To find a wine you like, you control multiple factors while tasting and use your judgment. Buy three bottles of red and three of white from a local retailer. If you recognize any brands, buy wines from those brands. Though you can ask the store owner to help you pick your bottles, they might confuse you by asking what wine you like. Someone else describing the qualities of wine for you defeats the purpose of developing your palette yourself.

Red and white wine require slightly different preparations because red wine’s ideal serving temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit, while white wine is 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Refrigerate them both, but let red wine sit out for about an hour before pouring and for 10 minutes between being poured and drinking it. In contrast, remove white wine from the fridge 10 minutes before pouring.

Though there are about 25 wine glass types, and a white wine glass will suffice for a beginner, any glass where the rim is narrower than the body, the rest of the glass, is ideal because it will direct the scent of the wine toward you more effectively. When drinking the wine, smell it first, and write down what you smell. After taking your first small sip, write down as many flavors and textures, how the wine feels in your mouth as you can think of. Drink the rest of the wine in small sips to build on your initial impressions.