WINE FOR NEWBIES

Posted by Andre on May 10th, 2008 in Basics

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You probably know what the first best way is, right?! By tasting it, of course! I know I am quoting myself (over and over again), but although it does help to read about wine, and what other people are writing about it, the only way you will really learn how to grasp all the nuances wine has to offer is by tasting.

Now, the second best way (and very, very much fun as well) is by playing! Games are a great way to help you learn a new skill, be it a new language, photography, driving a car or, wine appreciation.

This is the first time I approach the topic of learning about wine through playing games, and I hope I will find more games to bring to you. This one is called Wine Smarts, Vol. 1. The game contains a 12-page wine tips guide, 100 question and answer cards and a score pad. The cards are split into 4 categories:

- Vocabulary - Defines useful wine terms
- Region - Highlights wines from some of the major wine-producing regions
- Grape - Characteristics of the grapes you’ll most likely encounter
- Wild Card - Includes history, trivia, and other choice bits of information

If you don’t feel like being much social (or just want to “cheat” a little and show off when you have your friends over to play the game), the cards can be used as flashcards!

So, here are some questions to test your knowledge. Send your answers by adding a comment at the end of this post. I will provide all answers next weekend.

- Vocabulary
True or False - A corked wine is a high quality wine.

- Region
Napa Valley is best know for its:
(A) Cabernet Sauvignon
(B) Gamay
(C) Pinot Noir
(D) Chardonnay

- Grape
True or False - Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape.

- Wild Card
How large is a magnum?
(A) Not big enough!
(B) 1 liter
(C) 2 standard bottles
(D) 3 standard bottles

Good luck! Come back next week to check out the answers.

And if you decide to give the full game a try, please follow this link to purchase it directly from Amazon.com - WineSmart

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