10 Ways to Get into Wine Without Spending Top Dollar

This is a guest post from Louise Baker from Zen College Life.

Wine is one of the most celebrated beverages in the world, and for good reason. Not only is it delicious and perfect to pair with food, it is rich in antioxidants and is actually very good for the body in moderation. Unfortunately, it can also be rather expensive. However, you don't need to break the bank to learn how to enjoy good wine. Here are 10 ways to get into wine without spending top dollar.

1. Take a Class

Taking a class at a college or private institution is a great way to learn how to enjoy wine. More often than not, you'll be tasting some of the best wines available, all under the veil of "homework."

2. Attend Wine Tastings

Wine tastings are usually free, and are a great way to get acquainted with good wine. Usually, the wines featured at tastings are also relatively affordable.

3. Order Wine By the Glass

Ordering wine by the glass at restaurants is a great and economical way to learn about different types of wine quickly. Also, ordering by the glass is far less expensive than ordering a bottle.

4. Read Wine Literature

There are plenty of high-quality books and magazines on the market that focus on wine. The more often you read, the more up to date you'll be on current trends.

5. Shop at Closeouts

Wines are always going on sale because of overstock. Shopping at closeouts is a great way to try a number of different wines for less expense.

6. Go To Dinner Parties

Drinking with friends at dinner parties is an excellent way to learn more about wine, especially if they are wine enthusiasts. Bring a bottle of something you know is good, and chances are they'll have wines that you've never tried before.

7. Never Buy the Same Bottle Twice

Unless you've found a wine you really enjoy, try to vary your wine buying habits. Always pick up a bottle of something you've never tried before when going on a shopping run.

8. Tour a Winery

There are wineries all over the world that welcome guests in to view their operations and try their wine. Not only can you often purchase high-quality wines for discount prices at wineries, but they will usually offer you tastings of all of their different varietals.

9. Drink Locally

Local wines often cost less to purchase because they haven't traveled nearly as far as other wines. Try to drink local wines whenever possible.

10. Be Open Minded

One of the most important things about trying new wines is to be as open minded as possible. Just because you don't like a particular glass of wine doesn't mean that the style does not appeal to you. Be sure to try as many different wines from a particular style as possible before formulating any opinions.

When she's not trying to learn more about wine, Louise Baker is a freelance writer. She currently blogs about online schools at Zen College Life, where her most recent post was on the top online colleges.