The Daily Telegraph

The only way to really understand wine is to carry on tasting, says JONATHAN RAY. 'Tastings might range from hushed and highbrow ticket-only black-tie events hosted by a Master of Wine, to a few chums around the kitchen table comparing notes over a Chardonnay or two, and they are an essential part of any wine lover's journey.' In an attempt to avoid an organised tasting session turning into a drunken debacle, Ray recommends keeping the number of wines to a minimum (four of each colour) and following a set procedure white before red and unoaked before oaked, for example.