Some tips from a sommelier: which wine to buy and where? Part 1

About the fear of buying wine in Russia

There is a whole list of myths and stereotypes, which may blur the vision of our fellow consumer. One of them is that wine purchased abroad has higher quality that the same bottle purchased in Russia. 

And here’s another interesting one: all wine in Russia is made from powder. This myth requires the whole chemistry lecture, which will unveil the fact that such powder could not exist and could not be profitable. Even the most basic types of wine are made from 

natural grape juice. So there’s no reason to panic – wine in Russia is produced legally and it's safe to buy it.   

Buying wine in Europe

Knowing that wine is determined by area of origin, it is worth considering your geographic location while choosing a bottle. 

If you are in Piedmont region, you have an excellent opportunity to experience the most outstanding variety of Barolo, Barbaresco and Langhe wines, among others. 

While staying in Lake Garda draw your attention to an assortment of Franciacorta, and in Tuscany – to Brunello. 

There are several wine-shopping tips to help you make the best choice. 

1. Do not be afraid to ask the local cellarman (or “caviste”) for advice, this person is certified for this.  
2. You can either look for something you have already tested or tried in Russia and buy excellent wine at a more “tasty” price. Or you can give full rein to experiments and try several wines from one area (for example Gavi) and with the same vintage date but from different producers. This will already make you a comparative tasting set. 
3. Be realistic in evaluating your needs. If you need wine for a special occasion, and you are a wine and aroma gourmet, do not try to fit into 3-5 euro budget. Wines of this price range are suitable for everyday consumption, they are usually not complex, fresh, unobtrusive and nice. But it will provide you with a mind-blowing eno-experience. 
4. Use technology. There are a lot of apps available on the Internet designed to help you not get lost in the wine labyrinth. Although the majority of these apps only shows you someone’s opinion and ratings, there are several really useful ones. For example, Berry Bros, which can accurately indicate whether a certain year was good for a certain type of wine, and this may be very important. 
5. Try to buy wines in professional enoteche. Usually they have excellent choice of wines on offer, and the experts are engaged in selecting best prices and in providing help with wine choices. They also ensure proper wine storage.