Really, really new at this

[fangi]

Hello Newcomer,

never fear, i'm kind of new myself, but i'll tell you, absolutely nothing beats Jancis Robinson's wine course. I don't think there's a soft cover version, so it's a bit pricey. Maybe 30 bucks or so? It's seriously the best, most comprehensive (without being an encylopedia) book for beginners. It's a fun and unpretentious read.
Good Luck
brett