Mastering wine is as simple as looking to basic human interactions using commonsense and good manners. Yet so often when dealing with wine we are so paralyzed with fear we fail to listen to our basic instincts. We try to intellectualize, while the key to wine’s enjoyment is relaxing and using our senses.

Sensual Experience Exercise

Relax. Slow down. Turn off the cell-phone. Find a quiet space. Put a flower and a glass of wine in front of you. Take them both in with your eyes, enjoying their appearance, slowly. Then, close your eyes and smell the flower. Count to ten. Repeat with the wine. Very good. You may now sip the wine, but don’t bite the flower!