I have recently become interested in wines. I've done a lot of reading to find out about the different varietals. Finally, I decided to give it a shot. I tried three different wines of three different labels -- a merlot, a pinot noir, and a chardonnay. Each struck me with an extreme bitterness that was worse than the worst medicine I remember as a kid! My wife has experience with wine and said she didn't notice any bitterness. Is the bitterness something you get used to with experience? At this moment, I can't imagine ever enjoying the stuff. Any advice?

Strange question, Chuck M. Do you have any experience with other alcoholic beverages? Which bottles did you taste? Have you never drunk wine before? Did you just get married to someone you've never had a glass of wine with? Strange......

PH

Honestly, and I don't mean this to be sarcastic, but it dosen't sound like you really like wine. So, I don't understand why you are interested in it. Normally people get interested in wine because they enjoy it.

Chuck, I know someone who claims the same thing - almost every single wine tastes bitter to them. The only wine they enjoy is desert wine. Wine is not for everyone. You shouldn't force yourself to like it just because everyone likes it. Go have some beer!

Try a very good German Auslese wine recommended by your local store. If you think that stuff is "bitter", I'd go to a doctor--I guess they have ENT docs who know about taste buds.
If you like it, then graduate to a Spatlese, then a Kabinett, and then, you'll gradually start to enjoy some reds as well. Bitter is sometimes caused by powerful tannins, in an unready wine.
Particularly if you taste "bitter" in the sides of your mouth, that could be intense tannins.
Lay off the Italian dry reds.

As Irwin said, you are probably referring to tannins. However, all of the varietals that you have mentioned generally, but not always, have softer tannins. Good luck in finding something you like.

I'm not sure I understand how you bcame interested in wine enough to do a lot of reading without ever actually tasting any...But in any event, what chardonnay did you try? If you found that especially bitter, I'd be surprised if you could find any that you would truly like, outside of some of thedessert wines that others have mentioned...