Americans drank one billion gallons of wine in 2020, according to research from the Wine Institute1. That’s roughly 30 million gallons more than the year prior, which probably won’t surprise those of you thinking about the bottles of chardonnay you slurped down with your Zoom camera off. It’s ok. I feel you.

Yet, wine is not America’s favorite drink. A recent Gallup poll found about 31% of American adults are most likely to drink wine, trailing behind beer (39%) and staying ahead of liquor (27%). I often hear friends and aquaintances say they don’t really drink wine, they don’t know much about it so they just grab the cheapest bottle, or they don’t stray beyond what they already like because it’s intimidating. It doesn’t have to be this way.

This guide is for anyone who is new to drinking wine, or likes wine and wants to expand their knowledge and palate. You will learn a few basic terms, how to use a wine label to find what…