For a true wine lover, there could very well be no place on earth that offers more joy or heartache than a wine shop. For the experienced wine buyer, finding a great selection of wines is something akin to ecstasy, that incredibly exquisite feeling one has when falling in love or winning the lottery or having the finest dinner in the world. For the neophyte, the novice wine buyer, there is the promise of discovering a new favourite wine or country. This is part of what makes the wine experience so exciting, finding those special wines when faced with so much selection.

For both of these personalities, however, there is the yin and yang of the wine shop. The positive yin of finding that perfect wine is balanced by the gloomy yang of being bitterly disappointed. Is this good Bordeaux, a good or bad year or is there something better? What do you do?

Wine is one of the most intimidating products to buy because of the stigma attached to it and even the most experienced buyer has a difficult time narrowing their selection. Quite often, putting your trust in the hands of wine shop staff requires a great “leap of faith.” However, there are ways to negotiate the murky waters of wine buying.

Planning:

Have an idea of what you are looking for. Is it a simple bottle of wine, red or white, to have with the mid-week pizza or are you planning an elaborate dinner party for twenty? Do you want a local wine or international wine? How much are you willing to spend? Do you have a favourite country or would you like to try something new?

Resources:

There are numerous wine resources available, loads of books and magazines that have an incredible amount of information so do not be afraid to take advantage of these. One of the best is Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book.

The 2008 version is the 31st edition and offers more current news than ever on over 6,000 wines, growers, and regions along with vintage information, recommended wines (including budget options), and star ratings. With this book in hand, you will not need anything else in helping you select a bottle for an everyday dinner to a prestige vintage for investment. A new section showcases Johnson’s special, personal choices, and there are plenty of quick-reference maps, charts, and fact boxes for a little extra guidance. ($17.95 at Mosaic Books)

Wine web sites such as www.winespectator.com, www.wineadvocate.com and www.gismondionwine.com rank wines based on a numerical system, 0-100. A word of caution though. Wines rated with a mediocre score do not necessarily denote a bad wine. These ratings should be used as guidelines. Trust your own palate when it comes to tasting wine.

The Wine Shop:

Every shop is different, from the selection, the pricing, and the focus. If you are new to the wine game, get to know the staff and do not be afraid to ask questions. Do they have a favourite wine have they tried a certain wine, what is their most popular wine? Is the staff friendly and courteous or are they presumptuous and wine snobs. Do they offer tastings? This is a perfect way to try a wine before you buy it.

Experimentation:

Do not get stuck in a rut. If all you are drinking is Shiraz, ask your merchant to recommend something else but with some of the same characteristics. Alternatively, try something different. You may be missing the best damn wine you have ever had.

Wine Discounts:

Some shops offer discounts on wine sold by the case, whether mixed or all one brand. Also, look for wines that are on sale or being discontinued. Just because it is on sale or no longer being carried does not mean it is atrocious.

The most important rule in buying wine is to trust your own taste. No one knows your preferences better than you do, so it is important to be comfortable deciding which wines appeal to you and which do not. It is a big wine world out there, with literally thousands of different choices and even if friends or wine critics rave about a wine, there is no guarantee that you will like it.

With all this in mind, here is a selection of wines to take a look at.

From Australia, the 2006 De Bortoli Petite Sirah ($15.90 PWS and GLS) is loaded with super ripe blackberry, blueberry and raspberry fruit with scents of rich chocolate, creamy vanilla, roasted coffee, licorice and spice. The soft, round palate is full of decadent with flavours of blueberry, raspberry, creamy oak, and mint. Full, chewy tannins and a long juicy finish balance the velvety soft acidity.

From the region of Campania, Italy comes one of the best value wines on the market. The 2005 Benvenuto Barbera ($8.90 PWS & GLS) is chock full of deliciously soft Barbera fruit. The supple black cherry and raspberry fruit aromas are complimented by layers of tobacco leaf, licorice, saddle leather, smoke with subtle hints of vanilla, roasted coffee and prune. The texture is soft and yielding with appetizing flavours of red and black fruit mixed with anise, leather, and peppery spice. A smokin’ great bargain, this is one wine that you can buy a case of and it will not hurt the pocket book. You cannot beat the price or the value!

The 2004 Kurtz Boundary Row GSM ($31.90…reduced by $4 PWS) is a deliciously aromatic blend of 85-year-old dry-grown, bush vine Grenache from the Kalimna region of the Barossa Valley along with Shiraz and Mataro (Mourvèdre). This is a stunning wine showing aromas of black cherry-cola, black raspberry, smoked meat, menthol, chocolate, coconut, dried herbs, and anise. The texture on the palate is big and chewy with loads of rich black cherry jam flavour mixed with licorice, chocolate, saddle leather, rose petal, and dried mushrooms. Velvety soft acidity and firm tannins round out this spectacular offering from Australia. Enjoy now-2013.

If there is one Viognier you must try, the 2006 Clay Station Viognier ($19.90 PWS & GLS) is the one. This luscious wine lots of complex aromas of honey, white peach, apricot, passion fruit, honeysuckle and jasmine. The flavour is rich and full of tropical and orchard fruit balanced by crisp, clean acidity and a hedonistic, lingering finish. I love this wine.

I have waited a whole year for this wine to appear. One of the tastiest wines I found at last years Vancouver Int’l Wine Festival, the 2006 Flichman Misterio Malbec ($16.90 PWS) is full of cherry, blackberry, plum aromas with vanilla, chocolate, and cedar. The palate is soft and juicy with ripe red and black fruit flavour followed by violets, rose petals, vanilla, cocoa, and herbs. This wine could do with a little decanting it to let it breathe.

Usually a wine at this price point, especially a Pinot Noir is kind of light and fruity. Well, the 2006 Santa Rita Pinot Noir Leyda Valley ($16.90 PWS & GLS) is a welcome surprise. This decadent wine is loaded with rich black raspberry, cassis, and sweet blueberry, with hints of smoke, licorice, and cedar. The palate is full and rich with an almost jammy fruit character balanced by crisp acidity and firm tannins. Elegant and concentrated, it has a firm backbone and a sweet, lingering finish that adds to the fruit character in this variety.