Fear and Tasting

Wine-tasting rooms don't have to be scary places--with Metro's expert help, you too can be sipping and spitting

By Christina Waters

UNLIKE SEX (one hopes), wine tasting is an acquired skill. Do you spit? Do you swallow? Do you use the word "earthy"? These things are mysteries to the wine virgin, but they're mysteries easily overcome.

It helps to think of tasting rooms as mini trade shows, where potential wine lovers can sample, learn and expand their palates before they buy. Tasting rooms can arm you against throwing away your $20 on attractively packaged swill. When you do taste something you like, remember it--better yet, buy a few bottles right then and there--and you'll soon be cruising the aisles of Beverages & More without having to resort to Xanax.
-- metroactive.com/papers/metro/07.18.02/dining-0229.html