6 Common Wine Buying Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Want to learn more about wine but aren’t sure how to approach buying for your collection?

Once you find a few bottles that you enjoy, building a home wine collection can be a fun experience and a great way to socialize and host parties with friends. However, there are some common wine buying mistakes consumers make when trying out new wines.

Let’s go over everything you need to know about buying wine for yourself through these wine-buying tips.

1. Not Knowing Your Budget

Not knowing your budget is one of the most common wine-buying mistakes. Many people are unsure of how much money they want to spend on a bottle of wine, and they forget the importance of comparing wine costs which can lead to buyers impulse buying a more expensive bottle than they wanted.

2. Unfamiliarity With Wine Varieties

To avoid this mistake, one should become familiar with the varieties of wine and what flavors, aromas, and qualities to expect from one type compared to another. A good start would be to research and understand the differences between red and white wines, and different levels of quality. This can help inform the specific varieties or blends of wines one may want to purchase.

3. Not Doing Research

If you conduct research, you can ask more focused questions to choose the right wine for your taste. Walking into a store without any research allows much room for error. It is a good idea to research wine styles, regions, and wineries to become more educated on the subject. You can even find helpful reviews and ratings about different bottles.

4. Thinking Price Equals Quality

It is important to do research before purchasing to ensure you are getting the best possible wine for your money. Sites like Vivino can help you compare ratings and prices to find the best deal. Additionally, be sure to read reviews and ask knowledgeable staff for advice on how to find the right bottle for you. Ultimately, don’t let price be the only determining factor when picking a bottle.

5. Only Buying “Named” Regions

One of the most common wine-buying mistakes is only buying wine from named regions. While regional wines can be highly acclaimed for their quality, variety, and taste, there are often many other excellent wines from other areas that may be more cost-effective and enjoyable. To avoid this mistake, consider diversifying your wine purchases and exploring outside of the named regions.

Learn about the different processes of sparkling wine preservation, their flavor profiles, and the regions they come from. Talk to wine sellers and frequent wine-tasting venues to sample a larger variety of wines.

6. Not Keeping Track of What You Like

By noting the wines you particularly like, you’ll be able to create a go-to list for future purchases. You might even want to research the cellar trackers and wine notes available online to keep track of everything you’ve tasted. Not only will this information be helpful when selecting future wines, but it will also give you valuable insight into what you already enjoy.

Here Are the 6 Common Wine Buying Mistakes

Avoiding common wine buying mistakes can help ensure you have a positive experience. Research your purchase, take heed of reviews and recommendations, and know the region and style of wine that you prefer before making a purchase. Ultimately, careful consideration when selecting the types of wine can ensure you enjoy your purchase and your overall experience exploring the world of wine. Cheers!

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