Geared toward beginners, this series of videos created by Wine Library TV offers an introduction to the basics of wine tasting. In these nine videos, you’ll learn how to taste wine and train your palate, why the temperature of wine matters, how wine glasses can affect the taste of wine, and how to decant it. Plus, you will learn something about the difference between “new world” and “old world” wines and a little about wine ratings too. The host has his own unique style. It’s a little Jim Cramer-esque, to my mind. But if it works for you, the videos can help you move from simply drinking wine to tasting it with a little insight and perspective.
While on this subject, we should refer you back to an item mentioned in one of our more popular pieces, 10 Unexpected Uses of the iPod. Here, we mentioned that you can use your MP3 player to take a series of wine tasting courses (“Enjoying Wine,” “Selecting Wine,” and “Wine Regions”). Each costs $35. You can download a free demo from the vendor’s homepage and see if it works for you.
But if you prefer some good free resources, head over to Vinography. This big wine blog features on the left-hand navigation bar (scroll down a little) a long list of free wine podcasts and specialized blogs. While you’re there, you may particularly want to check out their wine aroma card, which is handily published in English, Spanish and Italian. An impressive site, to be sure.
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