Posted On February 10, 2013

We love a good glass of wine, and thankfully Silicon Valley is just a stone’s throw from one of the most incredible wine producing regions in the world.

Since we aren’t terribly smart about wine, though, we asked Jeff Gaffner, Winemaker at Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma, for some tips to look like a true wine connoisseur.

1. Order With Confidence – The best deals and most interesting wines you can find on most wine lists are California Syrah.

2. Hold The Glass The Right Way – Real wine people always hold the stem of a glass, never the bowl (so as to avoid warming the wine with the heat of your hand)

3. Don’t Forget To Swirl – When swirling the glass, place the glass flat on the table to swirl. This looks great on a white tablecloth, and there is less chance of spilling.

4. Sniff Your Approval – I personally only smell the wine when presented for approval – If the wine is off or bad, a true wine person will know right away. Why would you put it in your mouth after that? Many people describe the smell of wine gone bad as similar to a “wet dog.”

5. Fake It Till You Make It – Use personal descriptors when discussing the taste and smell of a wine. For example, say something like: “This Chardonnay reminds me of a lemon cream pie my mother would make when I was young.” Many time people will join in to share what I call their childhood memories of food and smells. This will help demystify wine and break the ice.

And lastly: Every great meal should start with a toast!

We couldn’t agree more. So here’s to you Dot Complicated readers – and to your new, smarter adventures with wine!

Meet Jeff Gaffner:
Jeff Gaffner, Owner/Winemaker at Saxon Brown and Winemaker at Ram’s Gate Winery, has become one of the most sought after winemakers of artisan labels, having gained critical acclaim and a loyal following for his site-specific focus and restrained elegant style.  

Comments

comments