Developing a taste pallette

[Zinner]

It may not have anything to do with the sophistication of your palate. Perhaps it's just that the wine store owner and you have different tastes in wine. Perhaps Cabernet Franc is not the varietal that rocks your boat. Or perhaps you'd really like a Cab Franc from another producer.

If the store owner loved brussel sprouts and you didn't, you wouldn't think you were too unsophisticated to appreciate them. Different people have varying preferences in wine as well as food.

Does the store have tastings where you could try several wines and then decide which you wanted to buy? These are usually low cost or even free, because they hope you'll buy.

That said, I often find the folks who tell me that they can never tell an expensive wine from a cheap one are often the folks who are gulping their wine. When people sort of toss the wine at their throat and swallow fast, it's no wonder that one wine is pretty much like another.

To get the full experience, you'll want to give it a little swirl in the glass, inhale the aroma and sip, allowing the wine to move around your mouth. After tasting it alone, try some food with it and see how your experience of the wine changes with the addition of the food.

Good luck with your exploring.