Mollie is the wine director of Maslow 6, the go-to-people for everything wine.

1.  What’s a good way to learn about wine?
The best way to learn about wine (and luckily a fun way) is to taste a lot, and to think about what you are tasting. Taste with friends, talk about the wines – what you like and why, and what you don’t like and why. If you can, taste with someone who knows wine and ask them about what you are tasting, what you are feeling in your mouth, and what you are thinking about the wine.   They will be able to tell you why you like what you like and don’t like what you don’t like.  Write it down if you are really diligent.
Find a wine shop that you like, where the salespeople seem to really want to answer your questions, and ask plenty of questions.  Don’t be afraid to ask, a good salesperson loves it when customers let them talk about wine.  Tell them what you’ve had and liked before, and ask them to recommend something similar or slightly different.  Try it out, and see what you think.  If they hit the mark, go back to them, because you have found someone who can understand you, how you describe things and what you’ll like.
Take a class. Find one where the instructor not only has a good reputation, but someone that is able to listen to the students, and really reach them. Ask yourself what your goals are: to learn of course, probably to have fun, and maybe to meet some great people who also love wine. You may want to discover some interesting wines, or some varieties and regions that you didn’t about beforehand.
Learning about wine is a constant discovery process, a ‘quest’ that can take you near and far.

2.   How do I choose a wine from a wine list?
First of all, figure out how it is organized.  Is it by region? By grape variety? By style?  What does this mean, anyway?  Most restaurants organize their wine lists in a more complex manner than red or white, breaking them down into like categories, such as where the wine came from (region), what it is made of (grape) or what it tastes like (style or flavor). 
If any of these general categories means something to you, or even if they don’t, it’s okay.  Chances are, there will be a sommelier or server who can answer your questions and point you in the right direction.   Just as in a wine store, it’s good to tell them what you like (crisp and white or smooth and red) and don’t like (bitter or sweet, maybe) and give them a hint about how much you want to spend (point to something similarly priced on the list and say “how about this one”).  This should be enough information for a good sommelier to find you a bottle of wine you’ll be happy with.
An advisory service can help you pinpoint the categories of wines you like, and make suggestions that you can take with you every time you dine out or shop for wine.   There is even a service that makes up a personal wine profile for all of their members, so they’re never at a loss when it comes to ordering wine. (this isn’t a usual offering, but I have heard tell that it is offered at Maslow 6) … [see more]