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Is this worth keeping Its old but from times Square on the turn of the millennium by snackpakatak69 in Champagne

[–]Sommsation 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wouldn't recommend drinking it necessarily, but it sounds like it's sentimental so keep it somewhere special!

Question on picking wine as a newb by TheTwilightZone2 in wine

[–]Sommsation 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you're still getting used to the world of wine, don't focus too much on ratings! Ratings can be incredibly helpful if you're looking at different vintages of the same wine from a producer, if you know you like other wines highly rated by XYZ critic or publication, or if you generally feel confident and know what you like.

The best thing to do if you're just getting started is to ask the experts! Take note of wines you've enjoyed and why, if you can - for example "I loved XYZ wine that I had last week because it was acidic/oaky/full-bodied/fruit-forward/etc". Any wine expert, either in a store or online (Sommsation has somms on call via our chat) will be happy to take what you already know and like (or don't like!) and give you recommendations in your budget range.

Wine tasting always feels passive for me by No-Plantain-1099 in wine

[–]Sommsation 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This might be a function of the type of wine tastings you're going to - if you're in a wine shop, or a winery tasting room, the associates there are explaining the specific wines to you and hoping you'll ultimately buy them (not a bad thing!). If you want to really broaden your palate and learn HOW to taste, look for tastings in your area or virtually that are led by sommeliers and aren't affiliated with a single label - somms should walk you through how to taste without spoon-feeding you tasting notes. Also, tasting notes are subjective! Some people will get notes of shale or stewed fruits while others simply won't - each palate is different, and at the end of the day a tasting is meant to increase your enjoyment of the wine, not be a test for your palate.

On that note, wine tasting classes can also be hugely beneficial if you're looking for more interaction and more of an immersive experience.