Demystifying Wine Appreciation

Wine intimidation is real but unnecessary. The sommeliers swirling and spitting, the auction houses with astronomical prices, the vocabulary that sounds like poetry or pretension—it can all feel exclusionary. But here's the secret: wine appreciation is simply about paying attention to what you're drinking and trusting your own experience. This chapter provides practical tools to enhance your enjoyment of French wine, whether you're starting your journey or deepening existing knowledge.