Wine 101 for Beer Lovers: Decanting "Uncorked with Billy Merritt"

Beer lovers and wine novices rejoice. Billy Merritt is proof positive that anyone can learn to enjoy the art of wine. As I often love to remind people, wine is about joy, conversation, and love and is no longer the realm of stuffy sommeliers or snobby critics.

Enter Uncorked with Billy Merritt. This TV series on Mojo HD network (for men of high taste and income who enjoy cigars, poker, and the finer things) is a fun look at a beer and whisky lover’s foray into the world of wine. Billy is a comedian and makes no pretenses about his wine ignorance – although, I get the sense he knows more about wine than he’s letting on. He is just a guy who loves wine, asks all the dumb questions, and tried to understand and enjoy the crazy little world of wine ordering and collecting. He’s a guys’ guy. Nachos, sports, and bars are more his thing, but he proves that wine lovers cannot - and should not - be pinned down to one stereotype.

His show is a pleasure to watch. It’s like watching Norm from Cheers make his way around Bordeaux. The show is full of practical advice, with certain tips appearing as on-screen captions. Billy meets and greets all sorts of wonderful people – wine shop owners, chefs, you name it - from Napa to Europe on his quest to transform from beer dude to wine guy. Just when you think he’s going to get the cold shoulder from the wine experts, they fall under his charms. He’s like a big, slightly disheveled, huggable teddy bear that embodies a passion for wine in its purest form.