There’s so much wonderful wine news that it seems like a perfect weekend activity: Find a glass you like, open a bottle, and enjoy the bouquet of mouthful flavors.

Name a state in the US, and you’ll have no problem finding a wine. Many continue to amaze and threaten the once imperial leadership from CA and other West Coast states. No more.

Name a country, and you’ll find lots of competition to the wine regions of France and Italy that have so dominated the international marketplace for so long.

Let’s play the game.

Find a wine shop you like; they most likely have weekend wine tastings (Many have added after work tastings and offer numerous price discounts). Sign up for their preferred customer list, AKA, give them your email address! Support wine shops that have stock beyond the ordinary. Many new shops have opened throughout the country that pride themselves on stocking the lesser known, often called the second brand of the big houses, and many smaller, lesser known wineries. Of course, when you travel, consider sampling the local wines of the area, the state. You may surprise yourself.

Follow a wine trail. You do not have to limit that excursion to West Coast states. Look at Virginia, a state which has been grabbing headlines for its selection and quality of product. Each area of  Virginia, for instance, has a terroir trail specific to its region or county.  If you find a group of friends to accompany you, consider a car service or at least a designated driver as sampling is such a major part of the excursion.

Let no one spill your fun. Wine tastes are personal. Not everyone will like the same wines nor the same wines with the same foods. Pairing can prove challenging, but again your individual palate impacts the end result. Try, sample, and compare. Your tastebuds will tell you if you have a match.

Throw out the rules. Enjoy the wine and explore beyond the big names.

You’ll be pleased.