Wine is art; wine is a drink. Some try to make wine simple, but wine is really very complicated. Wine is ever-changing, wine is fun, wine is ever-expanding with hundreds of new products released weekly around the globe. Wine is history, wine is geography, wine is culture, wine is travel, wine is tradition, but there is a renewal of sorts annually with every new vintage. It is against this backdrop that understanding just a bit more about wine can exponentially increase your enjoyment of this elixir of the gods.

Three more reasons

Better Networking — While there is nothing wrong with a lone contemplative sip every now and then, wine is a social drink best enjoyed with friends and family. The ability to hold an informative wine-centred conversation can open doors in ways most folks will not understand. When my wife and I migrated to the USA some 17 years ago, I noticed that many of my Jamaican friends only socialised with other Jamaicans. My network expanded very quickly and widely as my wine education progressed; we quickly developed a wide international group of wine lovers with whom we would attend most of the wine events in South Florida. I have travelled extensively in the wine world as a result of these relationships built around wine.

Expansion of your palate — This past week I struck up a conversation at a small dinner party where I was asked about the selections at the bar. After making some recommendations, I had to explain that over the past 15 years I have just about tried every wine that is imported here. As a result, I am now able to speak with some confidence about the style and taste of a wine by simply glancing at the bottle. Passion for the topic and a desire to learn will lead to an ever-expanding palate.

Increased wine – buying confidence —

Most people have no idea what wine to order at a restaurant or what wine to buy at the supermarket. Learning the essentials of wine will greatly reduce the doubts and will increase your confidence in either of these situations. Wine education will help you to understand that not all wines are created equal. Have you ever heard someone say that they only drink Merlot or that they don’t drink Chardonnay? You will also have some appreciation of the vast difference in prices of wines in the market.

“I don’t like whiny and cheesy people, but I do like wine and cheese people!”

— Anonymous