It has always been my goal to make wine less intimidating. That does not necessarily mean that all wines has to be easy-drinking and that you can only introduce wine to people in an informal environment. It means, that even when the wine is complex and the environment elegant, the way in which the wine is presented and talked about can be friendly. And with friendly I mean not snobbish, not daunting.
At the same time, while the wine industry might take note of being more approachable, for those interested in wine, some education might help. With some basic knowledge one might feel less intimidated by the tasting rituals and strange terminology.
Nowadays, with a world of information at our fingertips, it is quite easy to empower yourself with a bit of wine culture. Knowing just a little bit more about wine, might also make it more fun to taste and experience!
Why not start with these great sources: