3 Tips on Being a Better Wine Buyer

Buying Wine: The Paso Robles Wine Club 
Journey down any grocery store wine aisle along California’s Central Coast and you’re bound to see at least one—if not more—wine buyers wandering aimlessly, clearly unable to choose a single bottle from the seemingly endless choices. Chances are that you may even be this wine buyer; you know what you like, but when it comes to buying wine, you could use a little help. If you’d really prefer to taste wines without the pressure of having to choose, then joining The PasoRobles Wine Club is a good decision; we’ll send you regular shipments of unique, quality wines from the Paso Robles Wine Region and throughout California’s Central Coast. All you’ll need to do is open the wines and enjoy. In the meantime, for more confident buying while wine shopping, read on.

Here are 3 tips to being a better wine buyer:

Look at the Labels: Of course the labels tell the story about where the wine is made, the winemaker, the vintage, and the varietals, but the wine labels themselves—the art—can give you many clues about the wine, or at least the way it’s meant to be perceived in both the bottle and on the palate. If you like ‘old world wines’ look for labels with pictures of chateaus, castles, or any images or designs that convey a sense of tradition and history. If you tend to prefer newer styles, look for labels that seem more edgy or artsy. While the label isn’t always reflective of the nuances of wine, wineries choose labels that represent their brands, so taking the label into your decision making process can pay off.

Don’t overspend, but don’t underspend either: In many a blind tasting the expensive wines don’t fare better than those that are average priced and too often, people will choose a wine because they associate a higher price with a better wine. While it’s true that it might be a better wine, it might not be a wine that matches your wine palate. Take the pressure off yourself and your wallet by shopping for wines in the $10-$20 price range, that way, if you get one that’s not to your liking, it’s won’t put a major dent in your wine budget.

Step out of your comfort zone: Choosing wine varietals from wineries you’re not familiar with can be frightening, but it can also be a rewarding experience. With over 200 wineries in Paso Robles Wine Country, there are a lot of wines to taste. Even if you went wine tasting every weekend for a year, it would take almost 52 weeks to taste every wine the area has to offer—and that doesn’t include the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara Wine Country, or Monterrey Wine Country. Keep an open mind; you never know when you’ll discover your next favorite wine.


Finally, don’t forget that you need not wander the wine aisles aimlessly—ask for help. If you can’t find the person in charge of the wine section right away, strike up a conversation with fellow wine buyers. Who knows, you might be able to help each other out with the perfect pick, or at the very least, enjoy a good wine conversation while you’re waiting for guidance.

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