First, discard any ideas that wine in a box is a good thing. The packaging, to me affects the taste rather then the normal glass bottle. Sort of like beer in a glass versus a plastic cup.

Second, what are your basic tastes? More tart, more sweet or middle of the road. Cabernets are more tart, while a Shiraz can be sweeter and a Merlot can be middle of the road. Read the labels on the back of the bottle to give a more detailed description.

Third, what's your budget? Say you don't want to spend over $10 for a bottle of wine. Normally you get three glasses of wine per bottle. Make sure you have enough for your party, dinner etc. Host a wine tasting party where everyone brings a bottle of their favorite and make sure everyone adheres to the same budget. Wine won't go to waste, if there's some left over, use it for cooking and it's a chance to possibly see your friends do the mambo in your living room.

Last of all, trial and error are part of the process when searching for your favorites and using inexpensive wines are your best bet. My favorites, reds from Italy and South America (Chile or Argentina), and whites from Australia and Germany (all under $10 a bottle).

Learn more about this author, Marco Quinn Polo.
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