Wine can be intimidating and, as a result, might give you the inclination to avoid it all together, but basic knowledge is becoming increasingly necessary for everyday social situations. You may not need to know your clay from your limestone (soils) but it is important to know your Cabernet from your Pinot Noir.

With more and more wines available at consumer’s finger tips, it’s no wonder there is an increasing amount of wine classes – from wine bars to formal education establishments – available to enhance even the most novice wino’s knowledge.

Places to look for wine education:

Wine shops: Whether it’s a Saturday afternoon tasting or an organized class in the back room, your local wine shop (think serious wine shop, not hole in the wall) will likely offer you something to wet your palate and fine tune your mind.

Wine bars: Wine bars are an excellent place to turn for wine education. Many offer flights of wine that allow customers to taste several styles/grapes/regions against each other to help fine tune your palate and help demonstrate the differences between each glass.

 Organized tastings: Can’t find a class at your local wine bar or shop that interests you? Why not organize a tasting at home? Gather up some friends, instruct each to purchase a bottle of wine (themes are great for this) and try them against each other. Stock the snack table with crackers, cheese, grapes and smoked meats, and you’ve got yourself a wine tasting!

 Meet-up websites: Most major cities have websites dedicated connecting strangers based on like-interests. Search for “wine tastings” on these sites and you’ll likely find a group interested in meeting fellow winos (or ‘to-be’ winos.) Don’t see one? Start one!

Local colleges/universities:  Increasingly, more colleges and universities are offering extracurricular talks and classes focused on varying degrees of information and the art of wine tasting. This can be another excellent way to connect with locals with your same interest.