Learning to like wine.

[NewNameFor2024]

I don’t think it takes particularly nice, but I get gifted loads! (Teacher) There is only so much wine I can regift.

So, is it possible to learn to like it? Does it take time to become accustomed to the taste? Will it always give me a headache the morning after?

I want to appreciate a glass of wine and feel ‘adult’. I also want to enjoy a glass of wine in a bubble bath! (Yes that thread prompted me to start this one.)

Try drinking wine with food. Salty food makes wine taste better, sweet or spicy food makes wine taste bitter.

I didn't like wine when I was young but developed a taste for it due to DH.

Obvious things like serve at right temp, store it correctly, drink within a couple of days

Reds have higher abvs so stick to half a glass.
I really enjoy wine but never have more than a small glass & usually less. Doesn't give me a headache but everyone is different.

Reds have higher levels of histamines & tannins which often cause problems, whites will have more sulphites.

The young & old prefer sweeter wines whereas middle aged prefer the drier ones.

It’s awful. Have a carlsberg. You will feel much better.

How do you drink tea & coffee is another good guide. If you like strong black coffee with no sugar then you will be more likely to prefer full bodied, tannic reds or a mineral dry Chablis or Riesling kabinett. If you like milky tea or lattes you will probably prefer smoother, sweeter reds eg merlot or those with some sweetness eg amorone .

Sweeter fizz eg prosecco, sweet or dry roses & french sauvignon Blanc (the kiwi ones can be quite citrus & acidic) or Pinot grigio are probably good ones to start with.

I think some people just like wine & some don't though. I've tried drinking tea & beer (again due to DH) I've tried & I just genuinely dislike them.

Honestly, assuming you’ve tried it on a number of occasions (and something decent, not Blue Nun), and not cared for it, I don’t think I’d work on trying to make myself like it!

Do a wine tasting to find out what type you like, wines vary massively in taste, most people find the type they enjoy and stick within a range.

It's the sulphites in wine which are primarily the cause of hangovers. Our bodies are not very good at processing artificial sulphites and preservatives. Organic or biodynamic wines can only contain natural sulphites which occur in the skin of the grapes - organic wines contain less sulphites per bottle than you get in a punnet of grapes.

In general it is better to start with white or rose as they tend to be easier on the palette when you are starting your wine journey. Try a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand (but not a really cheap one!) Look for wines bottled at the vineyard as the quality will be better. If you can go to a wine tasting that would be a good starting point or find an independent wine shop as they will often let you taste and are a really good source of advice.

You nay never like wine though. I have friends who can't stand it but love gin or vodka, I prefer wine (but have developed quite expensive tastes after many years in the industry!)

I didn't like wine for many years, was really after I had children that I acquired the taste🤣 start off with something not too dry like a fruity rose. Once your used to that your taste should mature to something drier.........showing my age but mateus rose was all the rage when I was in my 20s which is level 4 sweetness level and I couldn't drink it now as would taste like squash😖 now I like a 1 or 2 at most.

I think research shows that it's mostly the congeners in mainly red wines that may cause hangover headaches rather than sulphites though some people respond to them too. Congeners are minor organic compounds which occur naturally in the wine making process in addition to the alcohol content.

It all tastes like vinegar to me, white, rose, red.
I don't like the taste of any alcohol.

I love wine (any colour, any grape!) but only with food or nibbly bits of posh cheese and never with anything sweet.

Only acquired a taste for it in my 30's though so just keep trying, or I can take it off your hands!

Don't bother, life's too short to force yourself to like to drink something!

It all tastes like petrol to me.

Wine is definitely something that I appreciate more as I get older.

I have learned to love it over the years.

Eating with it, really helps to adjust your taste buds. I used to really hate olives, blue cheese, wine etc and now they are my favourites.

Never liked it.. I've tried loads over the years.. to be sociable..l don't drink at all now.. gone off the taste of alcohol altogether in these last 20 years.. but wine was the worst alcoholic drink l ever tried.

I love wine and spend a lot on it

However, if you don't enjoy it why force yourself?

If you do decide to, rosè is good to start with.

Wouldn’t be my first choice of drink at all.
I don’t drink much, maybe a pint or cocktail.

I wouldn't start with Sauvignon Blanc it's far too acidic imo.

Try Pinot blanc or a fruity (rather than oaky) Chardonnay. Or as other posters have suggested a dry/off dry rose and always with food.

But I'm another saying don't try to hard, it's not particularly good for you and full of calories. I wish I didn't enjoy it as much as I do

I do like a carlsberg. 😂

If you’re local you can take it 😂

Unless you have very generous parents I assume the wine you’re gifted is under the £10 mark. There are some good bottles at this price but you have to know what you like and what you’re looking for. A tasting is a good idea. PP suggested avoiding a Sauvignon and I’d disagree, but the point is everyone’s palate is different. If I was given a bottle I know I wouldn’t like I’d donate to a raffle. Life’s too short for shit wine.

Just to be clear, this is just a light-hearted thread. I won’t be sat pinching my nose swigging wine to use it up.

i will try and look for the wines listed and compare therm to what I have, to me wine is wine.

We were also gifted some fizzy stuff when we got married earlier this year and also when I bought my dress. They also need using up!

The school wines range from £2.99 to £8, I only check as I regift and want to have an idea on how much I am regifting.

A bottle of the fizz was available for £40! I think that was either from the venue or the dress?

Don't force yourself. Why don't you get a wine rack and have them on display, and offer to guests?

There's a lot of much better beer than that. It's like the Black Tower if the beer world.

OP, be selective about what you drink and drink your glass of wine with food as most tastes better than way. You'll only find out what you like my trial and error too.