How to make a wine shop work for you

You walk through the buzzing door into a vast sea of bottles. The familiar aroma of cardboard and dust hits you first. The signs marking regions are very bold but the wine selections are definitely not very clear. Your eyes blur at the labels, with all of their colors and textures that mean absolutely nothing to you. The one other person in the shop is behind the register counter and, although welcoming enough, has begun to stare at you and your heart begins to pound. Now what do you do?

If you were planning on making margaritas, you'd know what ingredients to purchase, right? When you visit your local food market, do you make a list? Well, shopping for wines should be treated exactly the same way.

Fortunately for us North Fork, New Yorkers, we have the benefit of visiting the source of the wines and buying bottles direct from the vineyard but this is unlikely for anyone outside of the East End area. Not to mention the fact that even North Forkers like to venture into different bottles from other regions of the United States and of course, imports. I think we've all started our love for wine on a California grape or, at least in my family, a dry Italian red. I'm currently expanding my horizons in order to increase my knowledge on the subject. So, alas we all must shop at a wine and liquor store.

My experiences in wine and liquor outlets have pretty much mirrored the above description almost every time. I get nervous when I don't know what I'm looking for and with so many options, even a very sociable, interactive salesperson isn't much help. How do you go about making the wine shop work for you?

1. Check your wine rack or wine refrigerator. What varietal are you out of? Are you preparing for a special dinner? Identify what wine or wines you need to buy.
   
2. If you are venturing out to try something new, refer to a favorite magazine or website for recommendations. My favorite is Food & Wine Magazine. I often read through my current issue and earmark the wines they are recommending from an article or a wine pairing recipe.
   
3. Make your list. This list should consist of at least 3 choices of each varietal you are looking for. The wine shop may not carry the brand you seek so have a back up or two.
   
4. Upon entering the store, be sure to say hello to the store clerk and don't be shy. Having trouble finding what's on your list right away? Ask about it. Striking out on all accounts? Then ask for a similar recommendation.

My trip to the wine shop yesterday, lead me to a couple of different wines than I went in for, but I believe it was successful. I purchased a Rodney Strong 2006 Merlot from Sonoma as well as a Geyser Peak Chardonnay 2007, Alexander Valley. The Rodney Strong red was of interest to me from a few recommendations from friends as well as the store saleswoman. The Geyser Peak Chardonnay was a Food & Wine selection for great food pairing wines at a value. I will be sure to update you on both when I taste them.

For now, happy shopping. Cheers!