In the run-up to Christmas, which already seems aeons ago, I seemed to be constantly having conversations with people at parties that were almost always prefaced by a “I don’t know anything about wine”. But of course they did – they knew the wines that they enjoyed, but somehow felt they (the wines) weren’t worthy enough, and that they (the individual) ought to drink better and know more.
I can’t think of any other drink, or food, for that matter, that provokes such embarrassment and anguish. No one goes around saying: “I don’t know much about coffee”, do they? Or beer or whisky or cheese. And if they really don’t know much, they’ll cheerfully admit it or even say they don’t like it. (Many people I meet also seem to feel they should like wine even if they don’t.)
True, there’s a lot to learn about wine, but then, there’s a lot to learn about most things, if you care to apply yourself. And you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy wine. In fact, it’s impossible to know everything about it. I haven’t been to Bordeaux for a while, for example, so any Master of Wine student could easily outsmart me in a wine quiz. And I honestly don’t care.
It is always good to acquire more knowledge, though, and there are a few easy ways to do that. You can obviously go on a course. I definitely fancy the Dartington Trust’s two-day wine and winemaking Crush Course, for instance, while a couple of Twitter followers recently recommended the Wild Wine School in Cornwall when I asked on behalf of a friend who wanted to buy a course as a Christmas present.
But it doesn’t end there. Next time you go to a restaurant or wine bar, say, you could, and maybe should, order at least one wine by the glass that you don’t know (if there’s someone reasonably knowledgeable around, tell them what kind of wine you usually enjoy or simply ask for a suggestion). Then think about the wine as you drink it. What you like, or don’t like, about it. If you like it, take a snap of the label and Google it, or check an app such as Vivino, but try not to get hung up on scores and ratings: the most important thing, after all, is whether you enjoy it.
Finally, buy at least some of your wine from an independent wine shop. Yes, it will probably be a bit more expensive than a supermarket wine, but you’ll get good advice, provided you ask for it. We worry about betraying our ignorance, but asking questions is often the best way to learn.
Five wines to try now
Eléanor la Reine Piquepoul-Terret 2021 £8 Morrisons, 12.5%. A crisp, refreshing white made down by the oyster beds of the Languedoc. (Piquepoul is the grape variety, more commonly spelt picpoul.)
Jordi Miro 2021 Grenache Blanc Terra Alta £9.50 (on offer) Marks & Spencer, £10 Ocado, 13.5%. Grenache can be white as well as red. A smooth, rich, Spanish white to drink with vegan dishes such as roast cauliflower or celeriac.
EH Booth & Co Nero d’Avola 2021 £7, 13.5%. Bright, breezy, Sicilian red that’s made for a Friday night pizza; good with a cheeseboard, too.
Viento de Invierno Mencia 2020 £8.25 selected Co-ops, 13.5%. Another gutsy red, this is the Spanish answer to beaujolais. Drink it with empanadas or pork and beans.
Château de Chaintres Les Sables Saumur-Champigny 2020/1 £22 St John Wine, 13.5%. If you like a lighter style of red, fragrant, cabernet franc-based Loire reds should rock your boat (look out for bourgeuil and chinon, too). Drinklightlychilled with charcuterie, grilled lamb chops or even a seared tuna steak.
For more by Fiona Beckett, go to fionabeckett.substack.com
