Many of us wonder how to navigate the fine wine market and increase our knowledge of wines in the process because the world of wine can be an overwhelming one, even for those who enjoy drinking and collecting wines.
Allow us to throw some light onto the fine wine market and provide a little help on navigating the fine wine market to make it less overwhelming and even more enjoyable.
Drinking, collecting and investing in fine wines shouldn’t be complicated; it should be enjoyable in the first instance and profitable in the second.
Why is the fine wine market so incredibly complicated?
Over the decades, peoples interest in wines have developed, budgets have increased, and the wine market has exploded.
All of this has been wonderful in terms of the availability of fine wines increasing, but the downside is there is now so much wine, it’s become overwhelming for some and daunting for others.
If you’re happy to pop into your nearest store and grab a £12 bottle of wine because you like the label, you are not alone, and that’s perfectly fine. If you want to delve deeper into the world of wine and know a bit more, it’s going to take a lot more time and effort to increase your knowledge.
Wine has been produced from grapes for thousands of years, but our relationship with it hasn’t become any easier because there’s now so much available; where does one begin?
After all, you shouldn’t have to be a highly trained and qualified sommelier to be able to enjoy a glass of the good stuff. So why hasn’t this become easier as time has gone by?
Wine labels can help or hinder
Different countries have different ways in which they name, classify and produce their wine, even down to the labels; everything can be different from one bottle of wine and one country to the next.
Some wine labels are becoming a bit more consumer-friendly. With simpler information on them providing the details of style, tasting notes, source, vineyard, some have a region map, how to store and serve, alcohol level, type of closure and when best to consume by.
Not many bottles of wine have all of this information or lay it out in this easy to view way, making it so much more confusing.
Why do you see so many big brands everywhere?
Some of the bigger brands are almost like factories in that they produce a considerable amount of the world’s wines. They have connections with all the major supermarkets and restaurant chains, which is why you can find their products everywhere, and they become more familiar.
These wines can be perfectly delicious; however, they are produced in a set way, using the same viticulture techniques to provide consistency. That means that they often lack the uniqueness many fine wines can have.
It’s often the more boutique or medium-sized winemakers with the most interesting vintages because they focus on quality over quantity.
How to navigate the fine wine market
Many different and brilliant wine apps are available to help uncomplicate wines available worldwide. This is one way to increase your knowledge and gain access to recommend wines.
The best way to navigate the fine wine market and make it less overwhelming and more enjoyable is to drink more wine. Hoorah.
Tasting wines, taking notes about the label, the region, grapes, terroir, producer, taste and more will greatly deepen your understanding of the fine wine market.
Note where you purchased the wine. If it was drunk during an occasion or a meal out, put notes into your smartphone or take a picture of the label to study later.
It’s wise to build a portfolio of wines you very much enjoy and gain a deeper understanding of them; this will help narrow the market and provide a reasonable selection for you to enjoy and talk about with fellow wine buffs.
You could also join an online or offline wine club to share tasting notes and work your way through the noble grapes to increase your knowledge.
If you’re interested in collecting or investing in wine, it’s good to have a love of wine, certainly some basic knowledge, but always talk to a wine expert for smart investments.
