First of all, anyone who tries to tell you that certain foods must be served with certain wines is not to be trusted. The fact is, most wines go quite well with most dishes, and you have to work awfully hard to go completely wrong. So don’t be intimidated. You don’t have to be an expert to enjoy wine with food. People have been doing it for thousands of years.

That being said, as you explore wines, you’re going to discover subtle aromas and flavors that absolutely do bring out the complex flavor combinations in foods, as well as those that won’t overshadow the subtleties in other foods.

This is where the fun begins. And this is what makes learning about wines so rewarding.

So if you don’t know which wine to try, don’t be shy about asking questions of the sommelier (suh-mal-YAY, the on-staff wine expert, or wine steward, at finer restaurants) or the staff at your favorite winery or any respected wine shop. These folks have spent years learning about wines, and they live to share their insights.

Furthermore, if you’re on a budget, don’t be shy about stating your price range. In addition to knowing about expensive wines, the best winemakers and sommeliers pride themselves on knowing the up-and-coming, soon-to-be-discovered wines that are still underpriced (in fact, I think they get a naughty pleasure from divulging them, so they’ll be flattered when you ask).

Don’t be surprised if my name comes up.