OFFMEN International

How to Become a Wine Connoisseur
So you want to become an oenophile (a lover or connoisseur of wine). You don't have to be a wine-maker or have a basement cellar in order to appreciate fine wine. Just follow these tips to start you on the road to a new hobby.

Steps
Get information from the experts. Read books on wine. Purchase wine guides. Subscribe to wine magazines.
Go to a wine shop and ask the staff for recommendations. Look for bottles of wine with write-ups near them, award citations and high magazine ratings. Try to go when you know the store is holding a tasting with samples.
Attend a local wine tasting or a wine appreciation class. These are held at adult schools, winemaking schools and fine restaurants.
Join a wine group.
Visit a winery. You'll learn how wine is made, see how the grapes are grown and be taught the proper procedure for drinking wine.
Buy wines that match the taste of the food you're serving.
Don't just stick to traditional reds and whites. Try sparkling wines, ice wines and desert wines as well. Try wines that aren't just from Italy, France and the Napa Valley. For American wines, try South Dakota or Idaho. Internationally, try wines from Argentina, Portugal and Australia.
Learn about different grape varieties. Traditionally fine wine was made from mainly French grape varieties, but now a much wider range of grape varieties are being used.