Wine Talent Yui Teaches! Tips for Picking a "Must-Buy" Bottle When You Can't Decide on a Wine

Hello there♪ This is wine talent yui!

September is my birth month.

I'm so happy to receive birthday messages from so many people. I've reached an age where getting older isn't necessarily something to celebrate, but... I want to keep trying my best to age gracefully, just like a fine wine.

Now, I actually got hooked on wine five years ago—right around this time in autumn, when it gets cool and comfortable.
At the shrine where I serve, we hold a grand festival every two years in autumn, and the wine I drank with everyone in town at the after-party was so delicious that I was completely hooked.

"I want to try all kinds of wines!!"
That's what I thought back then.

In reality, though... when I went to the supermarket, I had no idea which wine to choose.

What language are the words on the label?
Is this bottle red or white wine?
Is Koshu Japan's Oregon state?

Embarrassingly enough, I started from this level...

Through gaining experience and learning step-by-step, I earned my Wine Expert qualification. Since I had no experience working with wine, studying from scratch was quite tough! (^^;;
But the more you know about wine, the more interesting it gets. My love for wine just deepens year after year.

So this time, I want to share advice with the beginner version of myself!
When you love wine but aren't sure how to choose, here are three points that mark a "must-buy" wine♪

Maybe this will make picking out wine even more fun?

Don't hesitate at all—just buy it for the label design!!

Castles, bicycles, lettering, animals, etc... Label designs vary greatly. Animal labels in particular come in many varieties—don't you often see them at convenience stores and supermarkets?
A wine's flavor changes depending on various factors like grape variety, region, and production method. As you try and compare many wines, you'll eventually start noticing things like, "Ah, this oaky character is totally my style!"

However, at first, your desire to simply enjoy and get familiar with wine is probably bigger than knowing your exact taste. So just follow your intuition and pick up a label you like. If you love cats, how about choosing a wine with a cute cat on it?

As you drink wines with labels you love, you'll gradually discover what suits your palate. The next time you go shopping, you'll be able to spot a favorite at a single glance♪

There's no need to rush—as you drink, you'll naturally come to understand your preferences. Japanese wine in particular puts a lot of passion into label design, so definitely check them out.

These days, "organic"is a phrase you often hear, isn't it?
Not only in what we eat and drink, but recently it has also been attracting attention in the fashion industry with organic cotton and sustainable fashion.

Organic wine cannot be defined by a single standard as criteria vary from country to country, but basically it is made from organically cultivated grapes. (Organically cultivated = grown using natural fertilizers and agricultural chemicals rather than synthetic ones.)

So naturally, it is gentle on your body. These days, organic doesn't mean a compromise on taste, so it's delicious and good for your body—killing two birds with one stone.

Also, what I'm paying attention to is theenvironmentas well.
For example, Mercian, a producer of Japanese wine, recently launched an organic wine in a PET bottle. You don't have to pull a cork, and you don't have to throw away a glass bottle. Plus, being recyclable, PET bottles are gentle on the Earth. (See https://www.kirin.co.jp/products/wine/organic/ )

Environmentally friendly organic wine is attracting attention worldwide, and recently there seems to be an increase in organic wines in paper cartons as well. It's so eco-friendly!

Organic wine that is gentle on both your body and the environment.
While taste is certainly important, enjoying wine with a clear concept in mind might give you a compelling reason to buy, don't you think?

The absolute number one thing people struggle with when they first start drinking wine at home is"opening the bottle."

Have you ever had the cork snap halfway through, or realized you didn't even have an opener at home?
These days, there are devices like automatic openers that make opening easy, but I think still very few people own one. (Ah... by the way, I have one ♡ lol. It's very convenient when you're short on time!)

On the other hand, a screw cap is a twist-off bottle cap that you can easily open by hand.
The image that "cheap wine equals a screw cap" is already outdated—in New Zealand, 90% of wines are sealed with screw caps. It is also a growing trend in Japanese wine year by year.

Of course, there are plenty of enjoyable aspects unique to traditional corks, such as aging characteristics and aromas. But if you just want to enjoy wine right away, screw caps offer plenty to enjoy! The quality has been rising, so you can drink them with confidence and enjoyment.

To store, just twist the cap back on! It holds up for about 3 days in the fridge, which is wonderful, right? ♪ Easy, safe, and convenient, screw caps are highly recommended for wine beginners!

In conclusion

Thank you for reading this far!♪

You don't want to make a mistake, but you don't know which wine to choose. Picking out a wine can be really tough at first, can't it?
Of course, enjoying the taste is very important. But even before that, there is so much information available to help you select a wine, and starting from the outside will eventually lead you to what's inside.

Trust your intuition and have fun!♪