As a wine buyer myself, both for my shop and personally, I am keenly fixated on making the right choices. The best possible advice I can give for wine buying are these three ideas:
1) Buy from a merchant you trust
2) Buy by producer
3) Buy by importer
Now, let us elaborate:
1) Buy from a merchant you trust
Of course there will be times where you find a great online deal or you buy from a big, impersonal "box store" but the majority of your purchases should come from a local merchant you trust. They may know you by name, or not, but all of them make conscientious purchases and once they get to know your palate, you will learn a lot. One of our regular customers likes to say - "since shopping at Rosso our ratio of successful wine picks has gone up dramatically." Take advantage of this.
2) Buy by producer
Once you discover a producer that you like, continue buying their wines. The best producers make the best possible wine in all conditions. Yes, vintages can matter, but if you buy by producer you will discover wines that you might not have normally tried, and learn along the way about how vintages affect wines.
3) Buy by importer
If you enjoy import wines, find out who the importer is (usually listed on the back label) and continue to buy the wines they import. If you like the style of one of their wines, you will find that they choose similar styles within their portfolio, even though the regions and producers are different. You won't be let down.
Wine buying can be a risk, at times, but that is part of the enjoyment. And as you get further versed in the best ways to achieve your goal of finding the best wines for your palate, you will find that these three ideas will matter more and more.
1) Buy from a merchant you trust
2) Buy by producer
3) Buy by importer
Now, let us elaborate:
1) Buy from a merchant you trust
Of course there will be times where you find a great online deal or you buy from a big, impersonal "box store" but the majority of your purchases should come from a local merchant you trust. They may know you by name, or not, but all of them make conscientious purchases and once they get to know your palate, you will learn a lot. One of our regular customers likes to say - "since shopping at Rosso our ratio of successful wine picks has gone up dramatically." Take advantage of this.
2) Buy by producer
Once you discover a producer that you like, continue buying their wines. The best producers make the best possible wine in all conditions. Yes, vintages can matter, but if you buy by producer you will discover wines that you might not have normally tried, and learn along the way about how vintages affect wines.
3) Buy by importer
If you enjoy import wines, find out who the importer is (usually listed on the back label) and continue to buy the wines they import. If you like the style of one of their wines, you will find that they choose similar styles within their portfolio, even though the regions and producers are different. You won't be let down.
Wine buying can be a risk, at times, but that is part of the enjoyment. And as you get further versed in the best ways to achieve your goal of finding the best wines for your palate, you will find that these three ideas will matter more and more.
