Are you a Wine Hunter? The word “hunting” can bring to mind different images for different people. I take the meaning in a more classical sense, keeping it to a descriptive action, in this case “the deliberate pursuit of.” Wine hunting for me is the enjoyable and thoughtful pursuit of something special, NOT necessarily something expensive. Do you enjoy searching, even infrequently, for a unique or special bottle of wine? If so are you successful in obtaining your quarry, or do you end up being frustrated? Let’s take a look at some good wine hunting techniques that can guarantee success.
First, why would you find yourself hunting for a wine? Do you have a special dinner coming up, or are you a collector? Even the staunchest beer drinkers I know all have a self-described “nice” bottle of wine at home that can be brought out like a trophy during a special occasion. Others I know are much more deliberate, hunting for investment grade wines that have the ability to age for years, destined to adorn the next open space in beautiful wine rooms. Therefore we encounter the first question that you must answer before setting out on your wine hunt: When will this wine be enjoyed, within a year, or more?
Hunting for a special wine to be enjoyed within a year is easier but more expensive. Quality wine is made from quality grapes, with extra attention paid from harvest, through the wine making, to the bottling. Some of this quality wine is meant to be aged, but in our modern era of wine consumption, most are meant to be enjoyed upon release. Therefore you need to determine if the wine is ready to be enjoyed now or will it get better with time. Some research and or advice is necessary here to determine which one it is. If you buy a bottle that will benefit from aging young, and age it yourself, you will pay relatively less. Time equals money, so if the wine maker has done the aging themselves, expect to pay more, but remember: Price does not equal good wine on its own.
Next, and most importantly, where to conduct your hunt? NOT AT THE GROCERY STORE!!! Grocery story wines are ALL mass produced, even the “expensive” ones generally lack anything unique, and all are over-priced, even when on sale! I have no issue grabbing a bottle for tonight’s family dinner, but steer clear of the grocery store if your intention is to bring home something to be proud of. We, here in Pensacola, are blessed with some great local wine shops. Find one that you like, with people who you trust, and go hunt there. Describe the wine you are hunting for in terms of flavors (taste), and feel. Use descriptive weapons like fruit forward, velvety, earthy, citrus, and one of my favorites, mouth-watering. Those describe attributes of tannin (for reds), acid, and alcohol. An even easier approach – taste the wine before you buy it! We have a lot of local wine tastings. If you are not comfortable with using your words to bag your trophy, then just taste your way to a win.
Whether you are hunting for your next investment grade wine or out in pursuit of something special for next week, picking the best game rich locations and choosing the right descriptive weapons are essential in guaranteeing success. Do this enough and before you know it you just might find yourself on a full Wine Safari, hunting for that next special bottle. Just wait until you have returned home to yell “Tally Ho!”