If variety is the spice of life, it’s often the bane of our existence when it comes to choosing a wine to take to dinner. Faced with seemingly endless varietals, price points and – let’s be honest – enticing labels, the task of selecting a bottle that once seemed like a breeze can quickly turn into an insurmountable endurance challenge.

With your best interests always at heart, GRAZIA spoke with Cake Wines head winemaker Sarah Burvill for her take on the seven most common mistakes you’re more than likely making when it comes to your wine selection.

 

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Being stuck in your comfort zone “I read somewhere once, ‘You can choose to drink one wine 10 times or ten wines once’. Wine is like food. You don’t have to love everything you try but it’s liberating to try new things. The more you try, the more fine tuned your palate will become and the more confident you’ll become with your opinions. You may even surprise yourself by falling in love with a variety or region you mightn’t have heard of.”

Not thinking about what you are going to be eating “A great wine and food pairing will bring out the best in both. Also be mindful of the order in which you drink wines – start with lighter styles (bubbles, aromatic whites) move through to Roses, oaked or textured whites and Pinots, then onto bigger reds. Don’t forget to treat yourself to a little sip of port or even cognac for dessert!”

 

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