He told me that there is one thing that everybody, even non wine drinkers, absolutely must know about wine. Without knowing this one thing, there is no point knowing anything else.

If you know this one thing, then there is no need to know anything else – all other knowledge of wine is merely an add-on to this one thing.

Before I get into it, I’d like to point out that this is the one thing that the amateur wine drinker needs to know. That is, the everyday man in the street, like most of us. Of course, if you are a professional drinker taster, a wine maker, wine critic or similar, then of course you need more knowledge than just this one thing. But for the average punter, who simply wants to enjoy a glass or 3 of wine without getting caught up in all the carry on about regions, vintages, storage conditions, etc, then knowing this one thing will be enough to guarantee that enjoyment. In fact, without knowing this, you may as well not even bother.

So, “what is this one thing that I absolutely must know about wine?”, you ask.

It is this: you have to know what you like.

That’s it.

If you dont know that, then there is no point knowing all about wine growing, regional styles, etc. It’s all a waste if you do not know what wines you like to drink.

So, how do you find out what you like?

A good question, but luckily the answer is simple: try a lot of different wine and see how you react. I recognise 3 basic reactions to wine:

1. Refill. This is a wine that you like, so remeber what it is ( variety, region and brand ), refill your glass and enjoy.
2. Swallow. This is a wine that you will drink if someone put one in front of you, but given the option you’d rather have one from the above category. Again, remember what it is, this list makes a handy backup list for when you are stuck in the mulga and faced with a limted wine list at dinner time.
3. Spit ( physically, or of you are too polite, gag and swallow but really want to spit it out ). These are the wines that you dont like. Remember these too, so that you can avoid them in the future.

And another tip – keep trying wines, even those that you dont like. You may find that over time, your palate changes, so wines that you used to like, you will go off, and those that you did not like, you will come to appreciate more. If you don’t want to spend your hard earned on a wine that you normally don’t like, then take advantage of the free tastings offered at the wineries, wine shows, and sometimes at bottle shops.

And there you have it: the one thing that you absolutely must know about wine, and how to learn it.

Made by Warburn Estate and sourced from the Barossa and Coonawarra wine regions of South Australia, varieties include Back in Black Shiraz, Highway to Hell Cabernet Sauvignon, You Shook Me All Night Long Moscato and Hells Bells Sauvignon Blanc. No news yet as to whether there will be a “Whole Lotta Rosé”.

Given that AC/DC’s front man Bon Scott died from alcohol abuse, I am not sure at the wisdom of AC/DC joining the ranks of bands with their own wine label. Hopefully they use this to promote responsible drinking somehow.

More info here.

Some have a minimum purchase commitment, there are some that don’t, and there are some where you get a certain number of (usually) cases of wine per year, anything from 1 to 12 is common.

And then wine clubs differentiate themselves  further by the variety if wines that are available. Some clubs allow you to choose the mix of wines, some clubs choose for you.

And of course, there’s cost. Some clubs specialise in cheap wines, some inexpensive wines, some  are reasonable, some are very expensive. There’s a price point for everyone. One thing that most wine clubs have in common is that they offer a discount from retail, regardless of the price they charge.

So, how do you choose one for you?

Well, firstly, there probably isn’t only one club for you. There are likely to be several. The first thing to do is work out is what kinds of wine you like. Do you like only particular varieties, or only wines from a particular region? Or do you like any wine, as long as it is well made? Answering these questions will narrow your choices somewhat.

The next most important thing is how much you want to spend on a bottle of wine, and the related question, how much wine do you drink? If you only drink a little wine, say on special occasions, then you probably dont mind spending more per bottle. If you are like me, and drinka little wine with almost every evening meal, then you’ll want good wines that dont hit the hip pocket too hard.

The last question is, do you want your wine delivered automatically, or do you want to order more when you need it? If you want it delivered automatically, then you (generally) wont have to deal with the clubs sales people ringing you up to see if they can tempt you with their latest special. However, if you dont drink it, you may end up with more wine than you need. Not that this is a major problem – I can certainly come around and help you get rid of  it

Many wine clubs count expert vintners or sommeliers among their members. But you don’t need to be a wine aficionado to be able to join a wine club. A great many clubs welcome both newbies and experts. They offer much information not only about various wines out in the market, but also about many wine-related topics; for instance, which type of wine should be served with a certain entrÈe; or news about the latest goings-on in the wine industry.

Wine clubs offer varying membership programs. For the fee you pay, you will receive wine selections from vineyards whose offerings meet the club’s standards. Clubs can send you their handpicked selections, or give you the opportunity to make your own selections. Most clubs usually send two bottles of wine to each member per month; they can be two bottles of red or two of white, or one of each. Along with the wine, you will also receive pertinent information about them, such as the winery where they came from, any awards, publicity or accolades that have been accorded to the vintner, and a description of the conditions under which the grapes used in the wine were grown.

Wine club membership offers several other perks. For instance, premium members are offered the ability to buy wines at discounted prices. If they have a Wine of the Month program, you can be sure that you’ll realize significant savings from being a member than if you just bought the featured wine at regular prices. Joining a wine club would be a good investment if you are a regular wine drinker — which many people are becoming because of much publicized news about how regular wine consumption has numerous health benefits. Also, most of the wine clubs today offer gift membership program, which you can give to people who would enjoy wine either by itself or with a meal.

Many wine stores or retailers have their own wine clubs, which you can join for a fee. Some clubs offer open-ended programs, meaning you can cancel your membership anytime. You should base your wine club choice on several factors. Are the services they offer worth the rate they are charging? What are their expert credentials — do they have wine experts who can give sound wine recommendations? Do they have additional activities for members, such as wine tastings or perhaps visits to vineyards? You should evaluate these factors and more before you select a club to join. There are hundreds of wine club web sites online, and they provide detailed information on what you get for your money.

People enjoy the benefit of receiving their wine at their doorstep — no more need to zip around to a wine seller’s physical location for a bottle of vino. However, you should remember that most U.S. states have strict laws regarding the shipping of wine from state to state. Perhaps you might consider choosing a club that has a branch in your particular state because in such cases the law is not as strict. This is another factor that you should look at when you are evaluating which club to join.

You can choose to join a wine club that has international coverage — one that features wine produced in the world’s most popular winery regions, and whose membership runs in the thousands — or you could opt for a smaller, more specialized wine club, which focuses on only one or two specific wine-producing regions. Then there are clubs that concentrate on providing only a certain type of wine, such as red, white, or champagne.

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when choosing a wine club to join. But then, as you can also probably see, there are numerous benefits you can experience if you choose the right wine club.