Reddit reviews What to Drink with What You Eat: The Definitive Guide to Pairing Food with Wine, Beer, Spirits, Coffee, Tea - Even Water - Based on Expert Advice from America's Best Sommeliers

I second The Flavor Bible - it's a great reference book and fun to browse, too. You can pair it with What to Drink with What You Eat, which as a similar layout and style, but pairs alcohol with food and vice versa.

+1 for the Flavour Bible. The same people wrote What to Drink with What You Eat, a food and beverage pairing book. Great if you want to do wine/beer and food pairings.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000SEIGUO?cache=3192bf0cf7bc1745994221c824edbf41&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1413219893&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

Read Windows of the World. http://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Zraly-Windows-Complete-Course/dp/1454913649/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415111222&sr=8-1&keywords=windows+of+the+world+complete+wine+course

I think it is the best intro, as it is structured and readable beyond that of just a reference source. It is great for giving some direction on where you want to take your own study afterward. (As mentioned, WAOW and TWB are great "second" books in my mind)

I'd also recommend "What to Drink with What You Eat." to serve as a basis for pairing: http://www.amazon.com/What-Drink-You-Eat-Definitive-ebook/dp/B000SEIGUO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415111602&sr=8-1&keywords=what+to+drink+with+what+you+eat. It will be great for a reference on wine interacting with foods you've had little exposure to previously, which could be the case your first time in a higher end restaurant.

The tasting group thing is a great idea if you can put it together, but may prove difficult if you aren't already around people with the same aspirations. It will prove very valuable once you are "in" at a place and want to continue your development.

The biggest key in an interview though is that you've shown a willingness and aspiration to learn. When asked about your previous wine experience, it will go a long way if you can state, "well, I only have direct experience (generic chain restaurant wines) but I've expanded my knowledge of the great wine regions of the world through self study"

Honestly, I hate wine. Tried getting into drinking it. Did some tastings. Its not for me. But I do like cooking with it. I bought a book called What To Drink with What You Eat and its been so helpful in choosing what to use for my recipes. It gives suggested pairings and I pretty much use that to to help me choose a wine would go well in the dish. And make sure that its not really tannic.