Reddit mentions of Kevin Zraly's Windows on the World Complete Wine Course: New, Updated Edition (Kevin Zraly's Complete Wine Course)

I'd also suggest this as a pretty good, pretty broad introduction to what wine is supposed to/can be. Zero pretension, while addressing how to compare and contrast wines styles (for similar grapes, regions, etc).

I linked to the 2013 version, but there's one that's a year newer for a few dollars more.

But a wine guide is like having an interpretion of Joyce's Ulysses; it's one thing for someone else to explain the sense they've made of something that has a subjective quality, its another completely for you to gain the same feeling of understanding.

Everyone will tell you that it's essential to try a lot of wine, and they're not wrong. But I'll add my $.02 on how to expedite the process.

1. Find a few like-minded friends that are interested in the journey. They don't have to have the same exact passion, just be willing to drink wine and occasionally articulate an opinion. Oh, and contribute to getting wine in front of each other. The friends thing is also key, because it allows you to open multiple bottles in one sitting and still maintain enough of a memory to compare them!
   
   
2. Begin by focusing on a few varietals that can be had in a range of qualities without breaking the bank. Many, many whites and some reds like Zinfandel, syrah, tempranillo, and grenache can have stunning examples at prices under (or even well under) $40.
   
   
3. If you can, visit as many wineries as you can. Particularly ones in areas that focus on a few varietals. You'll have a chance (often under one roof or within a few miles) to try 4-15 versions of a particular grape; ranging from entry level, to experimental, to older vintages, to barrel samples, to prestige labels - maybe at no cost, maybe for a nominal tasting fee. That's when you often have the epiphany, yeah I see why that bottle is $20 more - or almost as often, that you actually prefer the cheaper version.

read zraly or, redditors claim, macneil, then anything from jancis robinson. drink what the book tells you to drink.

Can't tell what level you're at, but if you want a great 101 book that I recommend to everyone, it's Kevn Zraly's Complete Wine Course. It's amaaaazing.
http://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Zralys-Windows-Complete-Course/dp/1454909099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394125144&sr=8-1&keywords=kevin+zraly