Q: I always get so stressed out when I buy wine--any suggestions?
Susan G.
Belle Isle, Florida

A: Lots of people feel this way, so here are a couple of tips to make your shopping experience a little more pleasant.

• Look for a wine shop that makes you feel comfortable. If you feel out of place or intimidated, your buying experience will be far from enjoyable. Whenever possible, try to establish a relationship with a clerk or two, which will only make you feel more at ease and allow you to ask more questions.
• Don't get hung up on trying to speak the language of the wine clerk. Describe the way you see, feel, or taste--let the clerk guide you based on your terms. Use whatever descriptive words you prefer to describe wine--big, soft, sweet, spritzy, tart, fruity. Here's another suggestion, even if you're not serving wine with food, describe the kind of food you might have with the wine. Any hints you can give, the better chance the clerk has to help you select just the right wine.