Can't Find Your Favorite Wine Style? A 5-Bottle Journey to Discover Your Taste Profile | PourPin

You love wine, but you don't know your preferences. This article is for you.

You freeze in the wine shop.
You stare at the menu but can't decide what to order.

• 「I'm not even sure whether I prefer red or white...」
• 「I buy different wines every time, and it's hit or miss」

Your palate isn't broken. You just haven't had a chance to verbalize your preferences.
In fact, many people continue drinking without expressing anything beyond 「delicious」 or 「not delicious.」

Conclusion: 5 bottles will reveal your taste profile. And it'll only cost you around $40-80 total.

Why do 「5 bottles」 reveal your preferences?

Human taste perception is generally considered to work through contrast.
In other words, when you taste a 「light wine」 and a 「heavy wine」 side by side, it becomes clear which one attracts you.

The 「2 red · 2 white · 1 sparkling」 structure creates this contrast with the minimum number of bottles.

Record these 5 bottles, and you'll create a 「taste coordinate system」 in your mind.
Next time you choose wine, you won't hesitate.

The 5-Bottle Journey List: What to Buy

Red Wine ①: Light Type (Pinot Noir)

Characteristics: Low tannin (astringency). Berry aromas. Easy to drink.
Recommended regions: Chile, New Zealand
Price range: ~$7-14
Hints examples: cherry, raspberry, smooth, medium

Even people who say 「I don't like red wine」 can often drink this type.
If you like light reds, try Beaujolais or Gamay next.

Red Wine ②: Full-bodied Type (Cabernet Sauvignon)

Characteristics: Firm tannins. Dark fruit aromas. Pairs with meat.
Recommended regions: Chile, Australia
Price range: ~$8-17
Hints examples: blackberry, oak, bold, long

If you like full-bodied reds, try Merlot or Syrah next.
If this type doesn't suit you, you know you're a 「light wine person.」

White Wine ①: Dry Type (Sauvignon Blanc)

Characteristics: Refreshing acidity. Citrus aromas. Crisp mouthfeel.
Recommended regions: Chile, New Zealand
Price range: ~$7-14
Hints examples: citrus, grass, crisp, short

If you like dry wines, try Chablis or Albariño next.
If you find 「white wine too sour,」 the next type ② might suit you better.

White Wine ②: Fruity Type (Riesling)

Characteristics: Strong fruit character. Subtle sweetness. Aromatic.
Recommended regions: Germany, Australia
Price range: ~$8-17
Hints examples: peach, floral, fruity, medium

If you like fruity whites, try Gewürztraminer or Moscato next.
You'll discover you prefer fruit over acid.

Sparkling: Reference Point (Cava or Prosecco)

Characteristics: Fine bubbles. Refreshing. Celebratory atmosphere.
Recommended regions: Spain (Cava), Italy (Prosecco)
Price range: ~$7-14
Hints examples: apple, toast, refreshing, short

Sparkling has the image of 「special occasion wine,」 but it's fun to incorporate into everyday life.
If you like bubbles, reach for Champagne or Crémant next.

Total budget: ~$40-80 ($7-17 per bottle)

You don't need to drink all 5 bottles in one week.
Take a month, opening one bottle each weekend—that pace is perfectly fine.

Recording Tips: Line Up Hints and Find Common Patterns

After drinking 5 bottles, review your records in PourPin.

What to Do

1. Extract wines you rated ★4 or higher
2. Line up the Hints from those wines
3. Find common Hints

Example:

• ★5: cherry, smooth, medium
• ★4: raspberry, vanilla, smooth, medium
• ★4: citrus, crisp, short

→ You seem to like 「smooth.」 You might prefer 「short」 over 「medium.」

This common pattern is the essence of your 「preference.」
Next time you choose wine, just pick varieties that evoke 「smooth」 and 「medium」 Hints.

Once you know your favorite Hints, you can tell wine shop staff 「I'm looking for a smooth red.」
That alone narrows down your choices dramatically.

3 Common Mistakes People Make on the 5-Bottle Journey

1) Buying the Same Variety

Deciding 「I like Pinot Noir」 and buying 5 bottles of Pinot Noir.
→ Without contrast, you won't see your preference axis. Always taste 「light ⇔ heavy」 side by side.

2) Starting with Expensive Wines

Thinking 「I need to drink good wine to understand」 and buying $30+ bottles.
→ $7-17 is plenty. Buy expensive wines after you know your preferences.

3) Drinking Without Recording

Thinking 「I'll remember it」 and not recording anything.
→ By bottle 3, you'll forget bottle 1. Without Hints, you can't make comparisons.

Supplement: The Difference Between Grape Variety and Wine Type

「Grape variety」 and 「Wine Type (color)」 are different.

• Grape variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet, etc. (types of grapes)
• Wine Type: Red, White, Sparkling, etc. (color or production method)

Wines with variety names on the label (New World wines) are beginner-friendly.
Chilean, Australian, and New Zealand wines often clearly state 「Pinot Noir」 or 「Sauvignon Blanc」 on the label.

In contrast, French wines follow the custom of naming by region (Burgundy, Bordeaux, etc.), and sometimes don't list the variety name.
That's exactly why recording with Hints is more practical than memorizing variety names.

Common Questions | Q&A About the 5-Bottle Journey

Q1. What order should I drink the 5 bottles in?
Any order is fine. But if drinking 2 on the same day, 「light → heavy」 prevents palate fatigue.
White → red, dry → fruity is the general order.

Q2. What if I can't read the wine name / AI Scan fails?
Not being able to read it is OK. Even if Scan fails, a photo + ★ + Hints completes the record.
You can also ask the shop staff 「What is this?」 and enter it manually.

Q3. What if I still don't know my preferences after 5 bottles?
In that case, review wines you rated ★3 or below. You'll discover 「Hints you dislike.」
A 「things to avoid」 axis is also a legitimate preference. It helps with your next choice.

Q4. There's a 30-bottle limit—will I stop after just 5?
No. The 5 bottles are your 「entry point,」 and from there you'll dig deeper into preferred varieties.
At 1 bottle per week, 30 bottles last about 7 months.
If you seriously continue, upgrade to Pro (monthly $2.9) for unlimited + Export.

Summary

• Not knowing your favorite variety just means you haven't had opportunities to compare
• 5 bottles (2 red · 2 white · 1 sparkling) create your taste coordinate system
• Common patterns in Hints become your criteria for the next wine selection

Today's 1 Action

This weekend, buy bottle #1. Start with either the 「light type」 or 「heavy type」 red.