Having spent many years connected to the retail wine world, I continue to be amazed at the number of people who stand in front of a shelve of wine as if they expect a bottle to speak to them and thus make the process of selection much easier. In my long experience, bottles have yet to utter a syllable. So why do people do this?

Adults are afraid to ask questions – it makes them appear less in control of the situation. And, for the successful adult (and we all prefer to see ourselves as successful adults) asking questions risks making us appear as if we are not in command of the situation. And, adults like to appear in charge. And, they do not want to appear foolish.

Moreover, wine is (or should be) and adult beverage, and thus, adults should know. But, they do not …

So, let’s start with what you know. You know from past experiences what you like in beverages. Do you drink your coffee or tea without sugar? Do you use a lot of sugar? Have you tried a wine that you liked? , Was that wine red? Was it white? Are you buying a gift? Are you buying a wine to serve with dinner? Do you want a wine simply to sip? Have you read an article that suggests that wine is good for your health? And, perhaps most critically, what is your budget? These are easy questions. Go to your wine shop armed with answers to these questions.

Now for the really tough question. How willing are you to venture outside your comfort zone?

There are more than 9,000 winemakers in the U.S., and the U.S. trails both France and Italy in production. Have you tried South African, Swiss, or Slovenian wines? Do you know if your local (or any nearby) wine shops offers weekend tastings? And, most importantly, do you trust your retailer? Do you believe that they understand your palate? And, how far you would be willing to move beyond your comfort zone?

California produces wines from more than 300 varietals (grapes that can produce wine), and there are more than 10,000 grapes worldwide that can produce wine. Do you only drink Chardonnay? Cabernet? Do you only eat hamburgers? And, even if you do, do you know how many wines would work wonderfully with that burger? You will never know the answer to that question until you ask (or are asked) the right questions?

Let’s assume that the questions are asked, the answers are given, and a recommendation is made for a wine with which you are unfamiliar. If the wine is intriguing, ask the retailer if they have a bottle of a similar wine open that you might sample it. And, please do not commit more money to the first bottle with a new flavor profile than you would for a wine within your comfort zone. Be sure to ask the retailer for an appropriately priced bottle (you need to determine what constitutes ‘appropriate’) that will give you a good example of the new profile. If you like the representative bottle, then you may want to try the same grape produced in another region. Maybe you will decide to increase the bottle price to determine if a more expensive bottle offers a wine with greater depth or finish. You can check on-line sources, such as the Wine Spectator, seeking a review that piques your interest. Or, simply return to your retailer and ask what other wine they would recommend (at a slightly higher price or from another region).

Last weekend I was required to take my own advice. My wife, Joy and I joined two New York friends who had also relocated to Charleston for dinner at a new Greek restaurant, Stella’s. Unfamiliar with many indigenous Greek grapes we relied on advice from the server (who already had taken our food order). Try the Lazaridis Oenodea Red Blend (reasonable and smooth). Both the wine and food were excellent.

To conclude, the simple question for you to ask the retailer or sommelier is … What do you think would go with…? It then becomes the responsibility of the retailer to ask the rest of the important questions? You simply need to have answers.