Know its origin, pair it right: Ways to appreciate your fave wine even more

From the time you pour a glass of wine, to until you drain the last drop, the wine is changing. As you add food and social interaction to the equation, it gets exposed to air and it gets warm in the glass.

- Eric Asimov

Opinions about wine evolve almost as fast, especially with the opportunity to try it as it changes. Several ideas have emerged over the years that get to the heart of both how to think about wine in the 21st century, and what consumers most want to know when buying wine. Here are some important lessons whether you consider yourself a novice or a connoisseur:

DON’T BE AFRAID TO EXPLORE

Over the last 30 years, the options for wine consumers have exploded. Good wines are now available at a higher level of quality from more places, made from more kinds of grapes and offered in more styles than ever before. The choices can be daunting, but the opportunities for pleasure are great.

FIND THE BEST DEAL

Few issues matter more to consumers than how much to spend on wine and how to judge the value. Nobody wants to spend a lot of money on wine. But, as with any category of consumer goods, some bottles cost more than others. Every bottle has its fixed costs: for farming, production, transport and the markups added with each transaction between producer, distributor, retailer and consumer. Small producers with an eye toward quality, whose farming and production methods are labor-intensive, have higher costs than big producers with an eye toward quantity.

DEFY CONVENTIONAL WISDOM