7 ways to drink wine like an expert

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Don't sip your wine — chew it (WTOP's Rachel Nania)

WASHINGTON — Wine experts aren’t born experts.

Take, for example, Marissa A. Ross. Nowadays, she’s the wine editor at Bon Appétit and the author of “Wine. All the time.” But not too long ago, she was a struggling comedy writer in Los Angeles who blogged about her love of inexpensive wine in her spare time.

“There are videos on the internet of me drinking $3 wine out there, for sure. For years, I wrote these reviews that no one read. I’d get like 14 hits a month,” Ross said.

That all changed when New York Magazine’s Grub Street ran an article about Ross’ blog. Suddenly, wine became a much bigger part of her life.

Ross’ goal, from the beginning, has been to help people better understand wine, without all the pomp and pretentiousness (and without spending an entire paycheck). Want to get started? Here are a few tips for drinking like an expert — no sommelier course required.