Uncorked Educational Tasting: How to Be a Wine Snob

Swirl the glass. Sniff thoughtfully. Say something about "structure."

Congratulations. You're halfway there.

This month's Uncorked Educational Tasting is all about taking some of the mystery—and maybe a little of the nonsense—out of the wine world.

We'll talk about how to navigate a wine list without panicking, taste wine with a little more purpose, describe what you're drinking without sounding ridiculous, and talk with a sommelier or server when you have absolutely no idea what bottle to order.

You'll also pick up some of those little bits of wine knowledge and etiquette that can make choosing, ordering, and drinking wine a whole lot more enjoyable.

And, naturally, we'll be practicing with some great wines along the way.

The goal isn't actually to turn you into a wine snob.

It's to make you dangerously capable of pretending to be one.