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Eno Files: Tips for overcoming winephobia Wednesday Nov 9, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Kevin Breck for the Mail Tribune I recently received an email from a reader with one day to experience Spanish wines, and asking which regions I would recommend. My first thought was that I was being phished. But, because he was a Nigerian prince and only wanted my social security number, I decided it was safe to respond. This started me thinking about a broader topic: Winephobia. A phobia is defined as “a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it.” Many people would like to try wine but are afraid to do so, because they don’t know what they like (or dislike), and are overwhelmed by the number of choices. Hence, winephobia. Here are some steps to overcome this tragic affliction. Step 1: Send me your social security number. (I’m kidding!) Step 2: Read. My wine education began in the pre-internet days, when we huddled around campfires reading from stone tablets. Fortunately you don’t have to do that. The web is an excellent resource to begin learning about wine. Don’t know where to start? Pick a region or a variety and begin. Step 3: Think about the wines you have tried. Which ones did you like or dislike? Why? An online article about basic wine terms may help here. Step 4: Find a local wine shop in your area. Introduce yourself to the wine person. Tell them you’re interested in wine but don’t know where to start, and ask for suggestions. They are a font of knowledge and are eager to share. Have a price point in mind. Twenty dollars will give you a broad range of options from which to choose. Step 5: Use food as a starting point. What are you making for dinner Saturday night? With that information in mind, visit your new favorite wine person (see Step 4), tell them what you’re making, and ask for suggestions. This will start to give you a sense of which wines work well with which types of food, and which do not. Again, the internet can help. Step 6: Find out when your new favorite wine store is having free wine tastings. These happen weekly in our area. Often the winemaker will be there in person and can offer insights on their wines. Step 7: Go wine tasting. Southern Oregon is blessed with a bounty of wineries. Pick three or four (more than that is overwhelming), and go. The modest tasting fee (which may be recouped with a purchase) is a cheap way to taste many different wines. Step 8: Start a wine club with friends. Once a month, host a party with a common theme and price point: cabernet sauvignon under $20, for example. Each person brings a bottle of the themed wine. Compare and contrast. Most importantly: Have fun! To quote Count Mippipopolous in "The Sun Also Rises": “Mr. Barnes," answered the count, "all I want out of wines is to enjoy them.” — Kevin Breck is a Jacksonville freelance write and winemaker in training. Contact him at [email protected].