Wine knowledge is more accessible than ever, but access to information is not the same as desire. This piece argues that anyone holding a glass is already a taster—and that wine communication should begin with personal experience, emotion and curiosity before moving into scores, technique and theory.

Analysis is not the problem. It should be neither the price of entry nor the end of the conversation.

People rarely study their way into loving wine.

More often, they love their way into studying wine.