At After Wine School, we believe in making wine approachable for everyone. Each episode, we dive into the world of wine without the pretension, focusing instead on its joys, quirks, and flavors. One of the most common questions we get as wine professionals is deceptively simple: “What’s your favorite wine?” While it seems harmless, it’s actually the bane of most sommeliers’ existence. Let us explain why.
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Why “What’s Your Favorite Wine?” Misses the Mark
Wine is deeply personal. Preferences depend on individual taste, context, and even mood. Asking a sommelier for their favorite wine is like asking a jazz aficionado their favorite piece of music. You’re likely to get an answer so specific and obscure that it feels irrelevant.
You know, just smelling that makes me want to grind up about a pound of oyster shells and just snort them.
A quote from this episode
Alana explains: “When someone asks that question, I feel torn. I don’t want to give an elitist-sounding answer, but my personal favorites often aren’t relatable. For example, one of my favorite wines is a Hermitage that smells intensely earthy—almost primal. That’s not something I’d recommend to a casual wine drinker.”
Keith adds, “I often liken it to the first time I tried an Australian Shiraz in my twenties. It was life-changing—until my palate evolved, and I started exploring wines like Hermitage. Today, my preferences are far removed from what a beginner might enjoy. Asking for my favorite wine doesn’t help you discover what you would like.”
A Better Question to Ask
Instead of “What’s your favorite wine?” try asking about someone’s favorite wine experience. This opens the door to stories that highlight the magic of wine in context. For Alana, one standout moment was visiting a garage winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley years ago. The winemaker, a former engineer, poured Riesling alongside soil samples from his vineyard. It wasn’t just about the wine—it was about the passion and intimacy of the experience.
Keith recalls a simpler yet equally meaningful memory from a tour in Priorat, Spain. A winemaker, known for producing exceptional wines, worked in an unassuming space with children playing nearby. The setting was raw, but the wines were extraordinary.
“Wine is more than just a drink,” Keith says. “It’s tied to people, places, and moments. Sharing those stories is far more rewarding than naming a single bottle.”
Making Wine Accessible
For those in the wine trade, having a “pat answer” can help. Choose a wine that’s unique but approachable, ideally in the $40–$50 range, and use it as a springboard to explain what makes it special. This not only engages the questioner but also avoids alienating them with overly complex or inaccessible recommendations.
Both Keith and Alana emphasize the importance of encouraging curiosity about wine. “There are no dumb questions,” Alana says. “We never want to discourage people from exploring wine by making them feel judged.”
What’s in Our Glass Today?
On this episode, we sampled a delightful Muscadet from Famille Bougrier. This wine is a perfect pairing with oysters, boasting saline minerality, floral aromas, and a nutty richness from its aging sur lie. Its fresh, briny character brought back memories of coastal New England and the crisp, cold air near oyster flats—a sensory experience that perfectly encapsulates why we love wine.
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