How to Improve Your Wine Knowledge & Skills in 2024

Wine is a funny old thing to learn about. So many people enjoy it, and yet the industry itself remains opaque, with plenty of jargon and challenging ideas, and not many clear pathways to understanding.

Here are a few tips on DIY mastery of the vinous arts (most of them involve tasting wine).

Taste the things you think you don't like--red

One of the best things about the world is change. Progress. Evolution. There are plenty of wines and even wineries that are vastly improved on how they were a decade ago, thanks to technological advancements, better vineyard management or even just a different winemaker.

Taste widely and re-visit the things you thought you knew. You just might be in for a pleasant surprise.

Explore the subtle AND the bold--plum

A great way to improve your tasting skill is to try not only the obvious wines that might taste completely of strawberries but also the subtler ones, that have hints of strawberries. What else do they have hints of? Look out for fruit, florals, spices, herbs and minerals. Think about the acidity and the tannin. How heavy is the wine?

All of these things contribute to the character of a wine and can be of various intensities.

Challenge yourself--racy

Be prepared to go off the beaten track when it comes to wines. One of my unwritten wine mottos is always to try something new. Whether I'm in a bottle shop or at a restaurant, I'll try and avoid having something I've had before, just to explore the wine world a little bit more. There are more than 1500 grape varieties in the world, and I'm running out of time to try all of them!

Reading--strawberry

Pretty much a given in any field of study, but make use of the knowledge of those who have already done the work and then distilled it. Read opinion pieces in the newspaper, read reviews online, and read wine books and magazines. A solid few weeks of reading about wine and you'll already be on your way.

Further Study--cellar

The earlier levels of examinations (both have multiple tiers of certification) are appropriate for those in other industries however and are a great chance to really jump into the intricacies of wine.

If you're keen to seriously tackle the great wine universe, there are two non-university globally recognised certifications. One is the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Program, and the other is the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS). Both offer in-depth study of many aspects of the wine world, followed by examinations. The WSET is better taught - classes, tastings etc, and is aimed at those with a career in wine marketing, selling or even making.

CMS is probably harder, as it is entirely self-taught, and is very niche, focus on those who work as a sommelier in the hospitality environment.

Take the Free Wine 101 E-Course!--wines

We get it. Time and convenience are of the essence for busy wine lovers like you. And your wine budget right now is going toward trying new bottles, not night classes. That's why if you want to boost your wine IQ now, we've designed a comprehensive 8-chapter Wine 101 E-course. Better yet? It's free!

Enrol today to level up your wine knowledge in just 4 weeks. This course will give you the map and tools you need to navigate the world of wine like a pro. So what are you waiting for? Pour a glass and join the class!

About the Author

Meet Alex Tanner, a certified sommelier, adventurer, and nature's flavour fanatic! From hiking old-growth forests to snowboarding mountain peaks, she seeks out new and exciting ways to pair wine with nature's finest bounties. Whether it's après-ski, or a campfire dinner after a long hike-in, Alex believes the rich flavours of the natural world can be amplified by a delicious glass of vino… or two!