A book lover’s best tips for buying wine

I am not a wine expert. (How’s that for an opening?) But I do enjoy the process of buying and trying wine, most of the time. Many people find the world of wine intimidating, but one thing that’s always made the process feel familiar is the connection between buying wine and buying books. Just like with reading, I have a loose system for choosing and I give myself permission to enjoy the process.

Today I’m sharing a few things I’ve learned along the way. I hope these simple tips make the process easier and more enjoyable for those who enjoy the occasional glass of wine, or who are seeking to buy wine for guests this holiday season or any time of year.

Tasting will help you understand what you love.

My friend Bri McKoy said this, and it’s applicable to both wine and books! You won’t know what you love until you try it, so get out there and try some wines, noting what you enjoy, what you don’t, and why.

For learning your taste in books, a reading journal is indispensable. I take a more low-key approach to wine: I was once given a wine journal (similar to this one); it was a thoughtful gift but I find I never use it! Instead, I keep a simple note in my phone with wines we’ve particularly enjoyed, and I also snap photos of wines I want to buy again so I can find them in the future.

Treat tasting like an experiment.

Don’t expect every glass you try to be a slam dunk. There’s no reason to put that kind of pressure on yourself! Instead, approach a new glass as an opportunity to learn something: did this wine work for me? What did I like about it? What didn’t work for me? Do I want to buy it again?

Don’t overthink this! Just take a sip and see what you think. Even a mediocre glass can teach you something.

It’s okay to judge a book by its cover—and a wine by its label.

Sometimes that’s where serendipity lies, and where the fun is! A friend’s book club makes a huge deal of choosing the perfect wines for their book club meetings, and for them that means seeking out the wine labels that best suit the book. Some of those wines are delicious and some are duds, but they enjoy the process every time.

While a book cover or wine label isn’t a sure-fire way to know whether you’ll like the contents (if only!), it does provide a helpful data point—not just for visual appeal, but also for learning the producer, region, vintage, and more. If you want to go deep, the New York Times walks you through how to read a label in twelve lessons. (Gift link.)

Seek out recommendations.

I’m always eager to hear what friends are enjoying, but my favorite place to get wine—and great wine recs—is my neighborhood wine shop. The staff members are passionate about wine and know their inventory backwards and forwards, and I have my favorites I can go straight to in the store. But often when I pop in we play a version of What Should I Read Next: I tell them a wine or two I particularly enjoyed, and maybe one that was a bit too sweet (or dry, or flat, whatever the case may be). I tell them my price range and—voilà! They send me on my way with a new bottle to try. They’re always eager to hear what we think of their recommendations, and so after I’ve tasted it and return for another visit we begin the process again. (If this reminds you of visiting your local indie bookstore: yes, you’re absolutely right!)

Get the temperature right!

I learned this tip at a wine festival years ago: whites get chilled; reds are served at room temperature. Right? Well, yes … if your “room” is a medieval castle with a temperature hovering around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, give or take. But if you’re in Kentucky in September, put that wine in the fridge for twenty minutes! True wine experts may tell you to serve a pinot noir slightly colder than a cabernet, but I don’t bother about the finer points—I just know my reds are more satisfying after a quick chill.

Shift with the seasons.

My reading preferences change with the weather, as do my dining preferences. Instead of bemoaning the fact that the wine I loved in July just doesn’t satisfy in the same way come January, I enjoy leaning into seasonal selections. Finding new wines each season could be overwhelming, but with a little help from my fellow wine-lovers and their recommendations, I’ve come to enjoy the variety.

As the winter holidays draw near here in the United States, many of us are buying wine for those we don’t usually buy for and for special occasions where we might want something a bit different than what we usually choose. Some of us who rarely buy wine are doing so now. I hope with the holiday season upon us I hope those of us who enjoy wine have something great to sip and share (or take as a thoughtful hostess gift).

Remember that, as in a good book club, it’s less about whether you loved the book (or what’s in your glass) and more about the conversations and time spent together—though I hope these tips do help you love what’s in your glass!

What are your favorite tips for buying wine?

P.S. We have a long history of comparing books and wine, perhaps beginning with this post about how reading is better when it’s done wine tasting style. If you want to read just one book about wine, I’d recommend Cork Dork. And these are the wine glasses I got Will for his birthday last year—a major upgrade from our dollar IKEA glasses!

P.P.S. That top photo is from my brother’s intimate wedding nearly ten years ago. I have no idea what we drank, but I sure remember toasting the happy couple!