Six simple suggestions for inexpensive ways to develop a foundation of wine knowledge.

The subject might be intimidating to some, but at least you don’t have to sit through hour-long lectures and write 10-page essays extolling the virtues of malolactic fermentation to develop some fundamental knowledge that will help you appreciate wine. Of course, there are many avenues for pursuing formal instruction, but here are six simple suggestions for inexpensive ways to develop a foundation of wine knowledge.

1| Purchase Your Text Book: Don’t spend too much time researching which wine to buy. You’re probably not going to be reading this from cover to cover, but the point is that you’re going to need a reference to help you answer questions that come up as you try more and more wines. Some suggestions: The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil, The Wine Club by Maureen Christian Petrosky, and The Dummy’s Guide to Wine.

2| Take Notes: Whether you opt for a nicely bound journal designed for wine notes or a simple three-ring binder, be sure to jot down your thoughts on wines as you taste them. Taking notes not only helps you remember wines that you’ve had in the past, but it also forces you to be more disciplined about making observations on each wine. As you write your notes, pay attention to things like where the wine comes from, what type of grapes were used and the year they were harvested, how the wine appeals to your senses, and the setting in which you enjoyed it.

Hi Everyone,

In the midst of a tomato scandal, I grew my own tomato garden in my backyard. It wasn't premeditated, nor did I have a psychic moment where I could predict that tomatoes would one day kill us all.

Sheerly luck!

Well my garden is raging, so many tomatoes, I can't make enough tomato-ee stuff to eat. And you know how much kids love tomatoes. My 7 year old gags when I show him one.

I came up with this recipe: he never knows he is eating them...

A wine that’s just perfect for sipping by the fire in February can often feel just too heavy in the warmer weather. Whether you are packing the cooler for a concert under the stars at Wolf Trap, or hosting some friends for an al fresco dinner on your deck, keep cool with these local bottles this season

1 Tarara Winery Pinot Gris: Made from the same grape as Pinot Grigio, Tarara’s take is zingy and elegant, with flavors of apples and citrus that wake up your palate and pair perfectly with food. Try it with fresh tomato salsa and tortilla chips.

2 Breaux Vineyards Les Amis: Grab a bottle of this wine, whose name means “the friends”, and share it with your closest pals. It’s a lovely blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Seyval that’s light, dry and fruity. Serve glasses with steamed shellfish at your next clambake.

Drinking wine is good for your health, it enhances the flavor of foods and is a great way to relax and enjoy time with friends and family, and now it can also be good for your community. How, you ask?

Jim and Kristen Opalka had spent countless hours watching their premature baby, Avery Quinn, grow strong in neo-natal intensive care. Modern healthcare practices and technology helped guarantee that Avery, born eight weeks early, would eventually go home with her parents. The Opalkas, owners of a wine distribution company in Virginia, felt especially grateful to the March of Dimes for its role in advancing baby healthcare and enlisted Reed Renaudin (winemaker for X Winery) to create a line of California wines they called “Avery Quinn.” Jim and Kristen donated a portion of the proceeds from this wine to the March of Dimes.

Just like you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, you also shouldn’t judge a wine. Pink is the new red. Use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to try a different pink wine: dry rosé.

Many people will admit that their introduction to wine was White Zinfandel or other blush wines like Lancers. After learning to appreciate white and/or red wines, few wine drinkers ever give a second thought to pink wines again, assuming that any not-quite-red wine will taste like the sweet stuff from their early drinking days.

There is a saying that “the French can’t imagine food without wine” or more importantly, “wine without food.” Of course this statement is a generalization, but there is a reason why Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, for example, are among the first that come to mind when selecting wines to pair with fine cuisine. Simply put, the relatively mild growing conditions in France combined with the restraint practiced by French winemakers usually leads to wines that are more elegant and less likely to overwhelm the meals they are destined to complement.

Unfortunately, most people take one look at French wine labels, which are notorious for their lack of information, and move to the next section of the store (or wine list) when picking a wine for dinner. Remembering a few simple points, however, can help to demystify French wine, and the holiday dinners that are right around the corner represent an excellent opportunity for you and yours to discover a wide range of styles of wine from one of the most important winemaking countries in the world.