【英语生活】葡萄酒爱好者必做的20件事

Here's a checklist of 20 things to do this year that will make wine more fun, whether you are just beginning your wine journey or are far along the road.

Try a Wine From a Different Country

A country whose wines are new to you. Have you ever had a wine from Croatia? Uruguay? Georgia? Next time you see one, grab it. They're out there.

Go to a Wine Bar and Have a Flight of Wine

If you have been to some wine bars before, try a wine bar you haven't visited.

Order the Cheapest Wine on a Restaurant's Wine List

Really, just screw up your courage and do it. Restaurateurs know that many people won't order the cheapest wine on the list for fear of appearing miserly, which is why the second-cheapest wine on the list is often the worst deal. The cheapest wine can sometimes be a pretty good deal.

Open a Sparkler at Home for No Reason at All

There are so many reasonably priced bubblies these days that they can be cheaper than ordinary Merlot or Chardonnay. Put a bottle in the fridge and open it for dinner. Yes, then it will seem like a special occasion, but that's the point.

Take Notes on a Fine Wine From Beginning to End

Make a notation of the time when you open it, then drink slowly and take notes throughout. Whether it's a fine white Burgundy or a good Cabernet, the wine will change with time, air and warmth. When you go back over your notes, you might be amazed at the changes. It's like pictures of children: You know they've grown up, but it's only when you look at the old pictures that you realize just how much.

This - the real thing, from France's Bordeaux region - is the classic sweet wine. Yes, it will most likely cost you some real money, but, fortunately, they do come in half bottles. Still, Sauternes is underappreciated and therefore, in its own way, a good deal. There are few more life-affirming wines, especially with some age, and even that half bottle could last several nights, making it more cost-effective.

Have a Blind Tasting

Maybe you want to go whole-hog and invite over a few friends and ask everyone to bring, say, a 2005 Bordeaux under $20 in a brown-paper lunch bag. But doing that at home with your significant other and just two bottles of the same kind of wine is also fun and instructive. See our column about doing this.

Organize Your Labels

We've heard from many people over the years who have saved wine labels, but just keep them in a big pile somewhere. Get a photo album and put them in. Maybe jot a little note for the special ones about where you drank it or why you liked it. Looking at them will bring back savory memories.

Visit the Closest Winery to Your Home

It's amazing to us how many people haven't visited the winery next-door. Now that there are commercial wineries in all 50 states, there is likely to be a winery near you. If you have visited the closest winery, drop in to the second-closest, and so on. You'll be amazed at the diversity of wines and styles in your own neck of the woods.

Attend a Winemaker's Dinner at a Restaurant

Keep your eyes open and you will find plenty. They are not only fun, but often can be a very good value. Sometimes wine stores sponsor these, too.

Have Fun With Stemware

Experiment. Try a good sparkling wine in a regular wine glass. Pour the same fine wine into two different kinds or sizes of glasses. We all have our 'everyday' glasses, but they can get boring if you don't watch out. Engage all of your senses when you drink wine.

Find a New Wine Store

Buy a bottle at a wine store where you have never shopped before. With all of the good shops these days, there's no reason not to find a caring, patient, knowledgeable merchant. Even if you have a great merchant, every store is different, so give another store a try.

Try a Varietal You've Never Had From a U.S. Winery

American wineries make all sorts of interesting wines that are hidden among the Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Maybe you've never tried Norton, or a Melon made in the U.S. Now's the time.

Either: Have 12 Different Bottles in the House at Once

Even now, most Americans don't have a single bottle of wine in the house. Buying a mixed case is cost-effective (because you will likely get a discount) and fun. And, if you are going to do this, think about getting one of those little wine coolers, which are widely available for $150 and less.

Or: Drink Up

If you already have a wine collection, mark those bottles that really need to be drunk and then actually drink them. OK, we know you won't drink all of them, but if you drink just five of them this year, you can check this one off. (No, we're not sure we can do this one, either, but we'll give it a good try.)

Go Crazy on a Wine Pairing for Dinner Some Night

Try a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with steak, a Ripasso from Italy with Southern fried chicken, a sparkling Shiraz with barbecue. Just smash outside that box and see what happens.

Try an Older White

Many fine whites age beautifully, from white Burgundy to Riesling. Well-cared-for Muscadet can be beautiful for more than a decade. At a restaurant two weeks ago, we had a 1991 Gewürztraminer from Alsace (Domaine Zind Humbrecht 'Clos Windsbuhl' Hunawihr) that was so effortlessly rich, well-balanced and satisfying that at one point we called it 'the essence of wine.' If you have a merchant who offers well-tended older whites, or know of a restaurant that offers them, try one. If not, buy a good white and hide it somewhere for a while.

Try a Type of Wine You Think You Don't Like

Are you sure you don't like German wine? Have you tried today's Rioja? If there's any type of wine you haven't tasted for at least two years, get a bottle. Things change, including your taste.

Get a New Corkscrew

C'mon, we know that old corkscrew still kind of works and you've been through so much with it. We, too, hold on to corkscrews way too long. But give in and get a new one.

Serve a Dessert Wine to Guests

Maybe your friends don't think they like dessert wines and maybe you don't, either. But try an Icewine from Canada or a Muscat from the U.S. or something else along those lines (serve with fruit, nuts or cookies) and watch the wine disappear.

Shatter Your Price Limit

At least once this year, whether at a store or a restaurant, go above your usual limit for wine if there is a bottle that looks especially interesting to you. And the opposite applies as well: If you really believe there are no good wines under a certain price, try one.

Extra Credit

If you have never dropped us a note to say hello or ask a question, don't be shy. Our email address is wine@wsj.com and while we can't respond to all notes, we do our best.

在葡萄酒方面，无论你是青涩的菜鸟还是经验丰富的老手，我们开列了一张今年必做的20件事的清单，它能为你的葡萄酒人生带来更多的乐趣。

1.尝试一种外国酒

某些国家产的葡萄酒，对你来说是陌生的。克罗地亚产的葡萄酒你喝过吗？还有，乌拉圭或格鲁吉亚的酒你喝过吗？下次你看到的话，要立刻买下。这些酒市场上有。

相关报导这是法国波尔多地区（Bordeaux）产的真正的好酒，是经典的甜葡萄酒。是的，这很可能会花掉你一些真金白银，但幸运的是，他们可以半瓶出售。尽管如此，Sauternes产区的酒还是没有受到足够的重视，因此，从这个角度来看，该地区产的酒就很划算。很少有如此让人喝了更热爱生活的葡萄酒，尤其是其陈年酒，甚至半瓶也可能喝上几个晚上，使它更有性价比。

6.参加一场盲品酒会

也许你想要大喝一场，邀请几个朋友来家里，请大家带酒来，比如带售价低于20美元的2005年份的波尔多地区产的酒（Bordeaux）来，要包在牛皮纸午餐袋里。但你也可以在家里与你的另一半这样做，只品尝两瓶同类的葡萄酒也会令人倍感乐趣和启发性。想这样做的读者请阅览我们写的有关专栏。

7.收藏归类你的酒标

若干年来，我们听不少人说他们收藏葡萄酒标，但仅仅是把它们堆在一个地方。建议你把它们放入一本相册，或许可以对特别的那些酒记一点笔记，例如你在哪里喝的以及你喜欢的原因。看着它们就能给你带来美好的味觉回忆。

8.参观离你家最近的酒庄

令人惊异的是有那么多人还没去过近在咫尺的酒庄。鉴于现在全美国50个州都有商业酒庄，所以很可能你家附近就有一家。如果你已经去过离你家最近的酒庄，那就到更远点的酒庄去看看吧。在自家门口产的葡萄酒和其风格就如此花样百出，你会感到惊讶的。

9.去餐厅赴一场酒庄举办的晚餐

睁大你的眼睛寻找，你就会发现很多这样的机会。不仅很有趣，而且往往很划算。有时候，葡萄酒专卖店也会赞助这些晚餐。

10.享受酒杯带来的乐趣

不断试验。试试把起泡葡萄酒倒入喝一般葡萄酒的酒杯来喝。也试试把同样的好酒倒入两种不同大小的酒杯中来喝。我们都有我们日常用的酒杯，但不经意间这些酒杯可能会变得无聊。喝酒的时候你得调动所有的感官知觉。

11.另找一家葡萄酒店

去一家你从未光顾过的地方去买瓶葡萄酒。如今有这么多的好店，我们没有理由找不到一个在乎你的、有耐心的并且知识渊博的葡萄酒商。即使你已经找到了一个很棒的酒商，但每家店都不一样，所以试试另一家店吧。

12.尝一种你从未尝过的美国酒

美国酒庄酿制各种有趣的酒，而它们被埋没在赤霞珠酒（Cabernet Sauvignon）和霞多丽酒（Chardonnay）里。也许你从未尝过在美国生产的诺顿（Norton）或蜜瓜酒（Melon）。现在该是去尝尝的时候了。

13.要么就：家里存放一打不同的酒

即使是现在，大多数美国人的家里连一瓶酒都找不到。买一箱有多种类型的酒，这样既划算（因为商家可能给你折扣）又有乐趣。如果你要这样做，可以考虑买个小葡萄酒冰柜，最多花150美元，而且市场上很容易找到。

14.要么就：把酒喝光

如果你已经收藏了一批葡萄酒，那就在真正需要被喝掉的酒瓶上打上记号，然后就开始喝。好吧，我们知道你不会把酒全部喝完，但如果今年你只是喝完了其中五瓶，你这一条就算过关了。 （不，连我们自己都不能保证能做到这一点，但我们会好好努力的。）

15.某天的晚餐用葡萄酒搭配不可思议的食物

尝试一下用新西兰长相思酒（New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc）搭配牛排，意大利Ripasso酒搭配南部炸鸡，设拉子（Shiraz）起泡酒搭配烧烤。突破一下传统的条条框框，看看会怎样

16.尝一瓶陈年白葡萄酒

许多上好的白葡萄酒随着存放时间的推移味道变得非常之美，无论是白勃艮第（Burgundy）还是雷司令（Riesling）都如此。精心保存的密斯卡得酒（Muscadet）在保存10年以上之后都可以喝起来很美味。两个星期前我们在一家餐厅里喝到了1991年份的阿尔萨斯（Alsace）产的琼瑶浆（Gewürztraminer），这种酒是那么甘醇而不造作，有着极佳的平衡度，喝了真是令人心满意足。喝到某个点上，我们称其为“酒之精华。”如果你认识一个能提供精心保存的陈年白葡萄酒的酒商，或他知道哪个餐厅卖这样的好酒，去尝试一下吧。如果做不到这点，也可以买瓶上等白葡萄酒把它存放一段时间。

17.尝一种你以为你不喜欢的葡萄酒

你肯定你不喜欢德国产葡萄酒吗？你尝过如今的里奥哈（Rioja）酒了吗？任何类型的葡萄酒你如果至少有两年没尝过了，那就去弄一瓶来喝一下。事情总是会变的，包括你的口味在内。

18.换个开瓶器

好啦，我们明白那个旧开瓶器似乎仍然管用，而且它也跟着你经历了那么多事情。我们自己也是一个开瓶器一用就是太多的年头。但不要再固执了，换个新的吧。

19.用餐后甜酒招待客人

也许你的朋友们不喜欢喝餐后甜酒，也许你也是这样。但是，请尝一尝加拿大冰酒（Icewine）或是美国马斯喀特酒（Muscat），或诸如此类的餐后甜酒（要与水果、坚果或饼干一起上），然后看着酒一点一点地被喝光。

20.打破你的价格底线

今年至少一次，无论是在商店或是在餐馆，如果你对某瓶酒特别有兴趣，那就别管价格多高而放任一下自己吧。反之也是一样：如果你真的认为在某个价格之下是没有好酒的，那也请你尝试一下吧。

附加项

如果你从未写上几句来向我们问候或向我们提问，那请不要再害羞。我们的电子邮件地址是wine@wsj.com，虽然我们不能回复所有的来信，但我们会尽力而为的。