Filed under: Wine, Books, How To

Master sommelier Alpana Singh has just penned a new book about women and wine, Alpana Pours: About Being a Woman, Loving Wine & Having Great Relationships. It is based on her observations of couples and how they interact over wine, as well as how to incorporate wine into different occasions, such as from "first dates to 'meeting the parents'." It seems aimed at women who are novice wine drinkers - just about everyone, compared to Singh - and wants to serve as an introduction to the subject, to push wine one step closer to being an everyday thing. Here are a few of Singh's most basic tips for wanna-be wine lovers

• Older isn't always better, so don't be afraid to drink it if you've got it.
• Chardonnays are "'pretty boys' that don't ask you to think." Develop a taste for "sophisticates" like Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling and Sangiovese.
• Chilling inexpensive wines makes "off" flavors disappear in whites, and makes reds "taste earthier and richer."
• "Don't give easily recognized, inexpensive wines as gifts." Look for more obscure, but still recommended, budget wines.