A baffling trip to Trader Joe's for Burgundy a la Beef Bourguignon, prompted me to check out Drink This at the library - by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl, with informative review here. In an unpretentious and practical voice, the author guides the novice through basic knowledge of history and wine making, provides a rubric to identify characteristics of specific species of wine, how to compare them and what to eat them with.

The Goal: Hopefully to lead budding oenophiles towards an assured recognition of their own taste preferences rather than inculcate what is "good."

I think this approach would also serve as solid practice when navigating all sorts of pedantic obsessions that might cross ones path in life such as opera, pizza, late 90's trance, contemporary fiction, French New Wave films, and politicians - in other words, all topics subject to subjectivity and dominated by intimidating eggheads.

While it's great to be informed, it's better to Be open. Be methodical. Like what you like. Even if what you like is Twinkies. Those Comp Lit skills ought to come in handy somehow.