Recently Randall Grahm, the founder of Bonny Doon winery, answered wine questions with Bill Daley of the Chicago Tribune. One of these questions was what common mistakes are the average wine consumer making with their wine selections.
While there are so many wines on the market from those that are everyday table wines to ones marketed as reserve or friendly it is hard for a consumer to sift through the labels to find true wine art in a bottle. Grahm feels that many wines that are sold are too high in alcohol, soft on tannins, and full of the flavor of oak. This can be a good wine but there is so much more out there for the taste buds to experience.
Grahmn also warns that special labeling can sometimes be a trap that does not need to be fallen for. Many wineries are using labels that tout their eco-friendliness or what they do to save far off animals but this does not mean they are a good tasting wine. Consumers should take the time to learn wine and which wineries produce what flavors. Wine tastings are a excellent way to try new things without being committed to an entire bottle.