For those living in the San Diego, CA area, selecting wine to serve with holiday meals seems like it would be easy, especially with the abundance of local wineries and wine shops. But for those who are not wine connoisseurs, how do you select a bottle of wine that you love and that pairs well with your holiday menu? An easy way to accomplish this is to befriend your local wine shop and learn your palate. Compiled below are some tips on how to do it.
Visit a real wine shop, not a liquor store. Start with two or three wine shops that feature different types of wine and get to know the wine sales staff at each shop. By building a relationship with the staff, you’ll have someone to assist you in your wine buying process, which leads to the next tip…
Ask for help. Let your wine clerk know what your budget is and the last few wines that you liked; then ask for recommendations for different wines. A good wine clerk should be able to give you a sense of what each wine is like and why you might enjoy it.
Purchase several different bottles. You’ll want to sample and compare the wines you buy before serving one with your holiday meal. After you’ve enjoyed your wine, go back to the wine shops and give the clerks some feedback. They should be able to build off of the information you give them and recommend other wines you may enjoy.
Go to tastings. This will help you develop your palate so that you can decipher different types of wine and wines from different regions. As you develop your palate, you will be able to choose wines that you enjoy and that pair well with your holiday menu.
Armed with these tips, San Diego locals will want to consider starting their search at 57 Degrees. Featuring a 6,000 square foot retail store, 57 Degrees offers San Diego locals a variety of domestic and international wine. Tastings are held regularly, and San Diego locals can even schedule a private group tasting conducted by Russ, the wine expert who owns 57 Degrees. Plus, the shop just won the CityBeat Best of San Diego 2013 award for ‘Best Wine Shop’.
After discovering your wine palate, if you want to share your favorite bottle with out of town friends and family, visit one of the San Diego PostalAnnex locations for wine shipping services. The friendly professionals can safely package wine bottles for shipping, and they know the various state restrictions regarding shipping alcohol.
Fifty Seven Degrees
1735 Hancock Street
San Diego, CA 92101
P: (619) 234-5757
Image: Fifty Seven Degrees Facebook
Sources: LA Times; Fifty Seven Degrees Website; Fifty Seven Degrees Facebook