Enjoying a bottle of wine can be a daunting task for the novice. There is a lot of pressure in our society to appear to be an expert wine taster. Strong opinions  about everything from wine decanters to the proper serving temperature to the proper shape of the wine glass abound and the faint of heart can be easily discouraged. But that need not be the case.

It's true, there is a lot more to a bottle of wine than what meets the eye. Consider the variables that are inherent in the pricing of fine wines. First there is climate.  Throughout the history of winemaking, it is agreed that most great wines have been born in warm, dry, mild climates with cool nights allowing the grapes to mature to full flavor.  Think Mediterranean, the Rhone Valley of Europe, or the coastal valley regions of northern California. But then there are climate changes. Each season brings different weather that affects the vintners' harvest. A premature frost can force them to pick the grapes for early production thus sacrificing ripeness and flavor.  Also, if the grapes ripen too early then the sugar content multiplies causing alcohol and flavor variance. Or a drought can simply destroy the crop. Ironically, these weather anomalies can cause the price of a wine to rise because reduced production affects supply but demand stays constant or rises.

Next are soil components.  The University of California at Davis, near the wine producing areas of Napa and Sonoma Valley, has a college major devoted just to wine production.  One half of the curriculum centers on soil properties of vineyards.  Get the mineral content, PH, and moisture wrong and the crop is inferior - a disaster in the pricing of great wine.

Aging is also important to certain wines.  Rushing a particular varietal wine to market before it's time will decrease value while allowing another to age too long will have the same consequence. Then there is competition.  There are now countless wineries with multiple labels on nearly every continent. The choices are dizzying.  Chardonnay, for instance, is so prolific that you could drink a bottle every day for five years and never duplicate the flavor. Drink one a day for three years and you will never duplicate the label!

But perhaps most important is individual taste.  Agreement among wine aficionados is rare and here are the reasons. Let's call it what it is.  Ego.  Wine tasting is an indulgence practiced by people who have strong opinions regarding the superiority of their senses. But wine flavor is such a complex individual experience that each person is subject to finding the nuances that have been recorded or said by others.  Even if they don't immediately taste hints of pear, grapefruit, or cinnamon, their minds will fill in the gaps from the power of suggestion. Don't forget that many believe that the way we experience wine depends on the time of day, our food (or lack of it) the serving temperature and - the shape of the wine glass from which we drink it.

The truth is wine is a beverage with a rich and storied history and many associated traditions. But it is still just a beverage. It was created for enjoyment. To savor and share. So when it comes to wine aficionados, listen to the ones whose ideas bring you pleasure, but ignore most. The bottom line is that there is ultimately only one expert you can fully trust as to what is pleasing to your palate - yourself. As you experience new and different wines you will find that your understanding and appreciation for wines will grow naturally. And by not pushing yourself to become an overnight expert you can enjoy the journey. Cheers!