Ok, onto Part 2 - we're gonna get a little more scientific.
The ripeness of the grape determines it’s levels of acidity and alcohol.
What happens when a grape gets direct sunlight and gets access to a lot of heat? It gets ripe. When it gets ripe, its sugar content increases. If you remember in your high school chemistry class, sugars are then converted to alcohol through fermentation. The higher the sugar content, the higher the alcohol level of the subsequent wine.
Conversely, the higher the sugar content of a grape, the lower its acidity will be. The inverse is also true, so areas that don’t get a lot of sun don’t create really ripe grapes, leading to more acidic wines.
Remember, the goal of any wine is to be as balanced as possible between sweet and acid. For those regions that either don’t get enough or get too much sun, their challenge is further exacerbated by having to control the ripeness of the grapes.
The third lesson is for the health nuts that read too much about antioxidants.
Did you know tannins are found in wine as well as tea? Did you know that tannins are the ingredient that make wine and tea great agents for antioxidants?
Tannins in wine come from the skin, so you’ll find tannins mainly in red wines. If you think about it, the juice from any grape is clear – it’s the amount of contact with the skins that give wine its color. Red wine is created by macerating the grape juice with the grape skins for a few days. It is this contact that leaves the red wine with tannins.
Great red wines that can be aged for decades typically are very tannic. It is the tannins that break down over the course of the bottle’s life to mellow the wine and allow the wine to incorporate over the years.
The fourth lesson is a freebie about a topic that is critical for wines but rarely considered.
50% of all corks are made from trees in Portugal. The trees are called Cork Trees.
And here’s one last review of a pet peeve.
Champagne is only made from the northern area of France called Champagne. All other wines that have bubbles are called sparkling wine.
(Be careful that someone doesn’t punch you in the nose for being smug while stating this; I lifted my right hand to slap my face just typing the statement.)
Conclusion
Wine is awesome. Drinking it is fun. Drinking it with friends is more fun. Drinking it with friends in cool situations is even more fun. Just remember that when you are going to a party – wine is meant to bring people together. Use the wine to create new bonds with people and new memories with old friends. Now go out there and drink some wine!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Things to Say to Show Off Your Wine Knowledge (Part 1 of 2)
Now that you’ve established that you’re the master of your wine domain (or at least know everything that’s been written on the back label of your purchased wine), it’s fair time to wow and impress the crowd at your general wine knowledge.
NOTE: the first thing to realize when you want to make statements about things in which you don’t have depth of knowledge BUT you still want to sound knowledgeable is that your statements must be firm and definitive YET never lead to follow up questions, like, “Why?” Or find friends who passively listen and tend to nod their heads to any verbal communication directed at them.
Let me give you a quick glossary of basic terms
Terrior: the dirt the wine was grown
Vintage: year the wine was made
Varietal: type of grape
Micro-climate: micro-climate
Okay, now you’re ready to talk wine with about 99% of the population in the world. Other than the wine maker’s (sorry, one more: vintner = winemaker) style, the factors that lead to a wine’s quality and taste are, you guessed it: terrior, vintage, varietal, and micro-climate. Leading to the first statement you can make about wine:
Other than the vintner’s (Oh, you don’t know what that is? It’s the winemaker.) style, the main factors that lead to a wine’s quality and taste are terrior, vintage, varietal, and micro-climate.
I suppose this is an obvious statement, but it sounds impressive, yeah? And really, it’s so innocuous and general, no one can argue with it.
Onto the second lesson for next time: we’re going to get into a little chemistry here, so put your lab goggles on.
NOTE: the first thing to realize when you want to make statements about things in which you don’t have depth of knowledge BUT you still want to sound knowledgeable is that your statements must be firm and definitive YET never lead to follow up questions, like, “Why?” Or find friends who passively listen and tend to nod their heads to any verbal communication directed at them.
Let me give you a quick glossary of basic terms
Terrior: the dirt the wine was grown
Vintage: year the wine was made
Varietal: type of grape
Micro-climate: micro-climate
Okay, now you’re ready to talk wine with about 99% of the population in the world. Other than the wine maker’s (sorry, one more: vintner = winemaker) style, the factors that lead to a wine’s quality and taste are, you guessed it: terrior, vintage, varietal, and micro-climate. Leading to the first statement you can make about wine:
Other than the vintner’s (Oh, you don’t know what that is? It’s the winemaker.) style, the main factors that lead to a wine’s quality and taste are terrior, vintage, varietal, and micro-climate.
I suppose this is an obvious statement, but it sounds impressive, yeah? And really, it’s so innocuous and general, no one can argue with it.
Onto the second lesson for next time: we’re going to get into a little chemistry here, so put your lab goggles on.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
How to Bring the Wine to the Party and Present It
Okay, so now you have your bottle in tow. You’re ready to bask in the glow of gratitude and awe from your hosts. But you need to give the wine deference as well and carry it with its due respect. Treat the bottle of wine like it was your baby. Would you carry your baby around by its neck? No, you would cradle your baby gently in your arm. So don’t grab and hold your wine bottles by the neck either. Show those child rearing skills and cradle that bottle of wine!
When you present the wine, do it with a flourish so the host knows that you made a serious decision in choosing this particular bottle of wine for them and this occasion. Indeed, this was not a flippant choice, so carry yourself and the wine accordingly.
Also, understand that wine is volatile. Try not to jostle it too much. Repeated and long-term jarring can affect the wine significantly. Sounds sissy but it’s true. So be gentle with the wine.
Know something about the wine that you’re buying. Basically, read the back of the label. You can get a lot of information from there to impress your friends. (And seriously, who reads the back of a wine bottle anyways?)
Things you can learn from the back of the wine bottle:
The different grapes in the wine
“Did you know that this blend is unique because it has 80% Caberet Sauvignon and 20% Syrah?”
The climate of that given year
“It was particularly cool in Napa in ’05 so they had to harvest earlier that year.”
Characteristics of the wine
“You should be able to immediately smell the strawberries and stewed plums on the nose.”
The winemaker’s history and style
“The winemaker studied in Burgundy for a few years and that affected how he makes his wines.”
You are starting to sound like you know something!
(On a side note, hold wine glasses properly. This is a pet peeve of mine, and hopefully it will anger you too when you see people hold wine glasses incorrectly. All you need to know now is that you hold the wine glass by the stem. That’s why it’s there. Don’t hold the bowl of the glass – that warms the wine. So please, if I haven’t taught you anything else here, in the very least, hold the wine glass correctly. Please.)
When you present the wine, do it with a flourish so the host knows that you made a serious decision in choosing this particular bottle of wine for them and this occasion. Indeed, this was not a flippant choice, so carry yourself and the wine accordingly.
Also, understand that wine is volatile. Try not to jostle it too much. Repeated and long-term jarring can affect the wine significantly. Sounds sissy but it’s true. So be gentle with the wine.
Know something about the wine that you’re buying. Basically, read the back of the label. You can get a lot of information from there to impress your friends. (And seriously, who reads the back of a wine bottle anyways?)
Things you can learn from the back of the wine bottle:
The different grapes in the wine
“Did you know that this blend is unique because it has 80% Caberet Sauvignon and 20% Syrah?”
The climate of that given year
“It was particularly cool in Napa in ’05 so they had to harvest earlier that year.”
Characteristics of the wine
“You should be able to immediately smell the strawberries and stewed plums on the nose.”
The winemaker’s history and style
“The winemaker studied in Burgundy for a few years and that affected how he makes his wines.”
You are starting to sound like you know something!
(On a side note, hold wine glasses properly. This is a pet peeve of mine, and hopefully it will anger you too when you see people hold wine glasses incorrectly. All you need to know now is that you hold the wine glass by the stem. That’s why it’s there. Don’t hold the bowl of the glass – that warms the wine. So please, if I haven’t taught you anything else here, in the very least, hold the wine glass correctly. Please.)
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wine Occasion: Thanksgiving
I love Thanksgiving. The whole family is around, with three football games on the tube, and a big fat turkey (hopefully either brined or deep fried). With stuffing. Lots of stuffing.
For any Thanksgiving dinner, there really is only one wine to choose. This wine is affordable, has a great story, pairs well with turkey, and is seasonably ready for Thanksgiving. This wine is… Beaujolais Nouveau.
Is it sacrosanct to suggest a French wine for an American institution like Thanksgiving? I don’t’ think so, considering that Thanksgiving was originally celebrated by British immigrants (by way of Netherlands) with Native Americans. But that’s another story for another time…
Beaujolais Nouveau is made with gamay grapes in Beaujolais, France (it’s north of Lyon and part of the Burgundy region). It’s released on the third Thursday of November, just in time for Turkey Day. It’s dry, fruit forward, and ready to drink immediately.
Wine Suggestion:
Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
For any Thanksgiving dinner, there really is only one wine to choose. This wine is affordable, has a great story, pairs well with turkey, and is seasonably ready for Thanksgiving. This wine is… Beaujolais Nouveau.
Is it sacrosanct to suggest a French wine for an American institution like Thanksgiving? I don’t’ think so, considering that Thanksgiving was originally celebrated by British immigrants (by way of Netherlands) with Native Americans. But that’s another story for another time…
Beaujolais Nouveau is made with gamay grapes in Beaujolais, France (it’s north of Lyon and part of the Burgundy region). It’s released on the third Thursday of November, just in time for Turkey Day. It’s dry, fruit forward, and ready to drink immediately.
Wine Suggestion:
Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
Monday, May 25, 2009
Wine Occasion: Dinner Party / Housewarming Party
We can all agree that the only possible gift to bring to a dinner party is a bottle of wine. Anything short of that just won’t cut it. How about a bottle of Jack Daniels? Only if you are rocking leather chaps, dirt under your nails, and an uncontrollable beard. A six pack of Zima? You missed by a decade.
Face it – your friends are now sophisticated enough to have a place worthy of a dinner party, so they’ve probably left their sloppy evenings in the past. You should too and join everyone into maturity. To that end, let’s get drunk on wine.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
We’re going international with this selection, to New Zealand. New Zealand offers world class Sauvignon Blanc, and some find that this is the purest form of Suavignon Blanc. As I mentioned before, Suavignon Blanc is a great selection for lighter food, so you can pair your New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with the salad course. I’m sure that everyone else brought Napa Cap to the shindig, so everyone can drink that with the main course.
$ Red – Greg Norman Shiraz
Australia is making wines at a never-seen-before pace, and its annual wine production now compares to Italy and France. And some of it is actually good! Just kidding – Australia is renowned for its Shiraz (Australian for Syrah), with a flavor profile of luscious stone fruits and big body.
$$ White – Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Champagne
You might notice the strategy with my white wine selections for the dinner party is to have my wines consumed early in the meal. By bringing Champagne, everyone at the party will be consuming your Champagne as an appertif. You have unofficially served as the master of ceremonies, kicking things off with a great bottle of Champagne while regaling everyone of your jaunt through north France in your teens, picking grapes for the great Champagne houses by day and seducing widowed Champagne house owners by night. Or you can say that you thought that this bottle of Perrier Jouet looked cool because of all the pretty flowers on it.
$$ red – Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti
Chianti is an Italian wine made from Sangiovese grapes. It pairs well with many foods and again, you get to appear continental. You can even make references to that summer you spent in the Tuscan countryside, picking grapes and making olive oil. But I digress. You typically should avoid the traditional chianti bottles in the straw basket – Italian men don’t wear handlebar moustaches anymore so you can buy modern Chianti.
Face it – your friends are now sophisticated enough to have a place worthy of a dinner party, so they’ve probably left their sloppy evenings in the past. You should too and join everyone into maturity. To that end, let’s get drunk on wine.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
We’re going international with this selection, to New Zealand. New Zealand offers world class Sauvignon Blanc, and some find that this is the purest form of Suavignon Blanc. As I mentioned before, Suavignon Blanc is a great selection for lighter food, so you can pair your New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with the salad course. I’m sure that everyone else brought Napa Cap to the shindig, so everyone can drink that with the main course.
$ Red – Greg Norman Shiraz
Australia is making wines at a never-seen-before pace, and its annual wine production now compares to Italy and France. And some of it is actually good! Just kidding – Australia is renowned for its Shiraz (Australian for Syrah), with a flavor profile of luscious stone fruits and big body.
$$ White – Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Champagne
You might notice the strategy with my white wine selections for the dinner party is to have my wines consumed early in the meal. By bringing Champagne, everyone at the party will be consuming your Champagne as an appertif. You have unofficially served as the master of ceremonies, kicking things off with a great bottle of Champagne while regaling everyone of your jaunt through north France in your teens, picking grapes for the great Champagne houses by day and seducing widowed Champagne house owners by night. Or you can say that you thought that this bottle of Perrier Jouet looked cool because of all the pretty flowers on it.
$$ red – Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti
Chianti is an Italian wine made from Sangiovese grapes. It pairs well with many foods and again, you get to appear continental. You can even make references to that summer you spent in the Tuscan countryside, picking grapes and making olive oil. But I digress. You typically should avoid the traditional chianti bottles in the straw basket – Italian men don’t wear handlebar moustaches anymore so you can buy modern Chianti.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Wine Occasion: Sunday Brunch
Sunday brunch is quite possibly the best time for friends to get together for a drink. This event will happen at friend’s house (or your place, if you happen to draw the short end of the stick), and expecctastions and formality are thrown out the window. Every country seems to have their own take on the beverage of choice for Sunday brunch – Bellinis in Italy, Mimosas in France, Bloody Maries in the US. Since I’ve never seen a Bloody Mary recipe incorporate wine (Thank Heaven!) so we’ll have a more international flavor here.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Candoni Prosecco Brut Sparkling Wine
Bellinis are made by combining Prosecco (an Italian sparking wine made from prosecco grapes in Veneto, close to Conegliano and Valdobbiadene) with peach puree. This is the drink of Venice, invented at Harry’s Bar by Giuseppe Cipriani and enjoyed by responsible drinkers like Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis and Orson Welles.
Bellinis are a great wake-me-up after a Saturday bender or a great refresher before a long hike / bike ride. The key thing here is that they’re easy to make (granted you have access to peach puree) and clean up is a cinch. A winning combo for a lazy Sunday brunch.
$ Red – Clos du Bois Rosé
Rosé is another great Sunday brunch wine – it’s a lightly pressed red wine that is chilled. You’ll often get the fruitiness of a red wine but the sharpness and coolness of a white wine. Since brunch is the combination of breakfast and lunch, wouldn’t it follow logically that a combination wine would be a perfect match?
$$ White – Chalk Hill Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a great brunch wine because it doesn’t overpower food and typically pairs with lighter fare. Unless you’re having heart-wrenching brunch of sloppy joes or steak and eggs, a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc should be a delightful selection.
$$ Red – Macrostie Carneros Pinot Noir
The great thing about Pinot Noir is it pairs well with many foods and fits in many different situations. Because many Pinots drink lightly, it would be a perfect fit for a light Sunday afternoon brunch. Mainly, it won’t leave you feeling like you just had a full meal after two glasses of it.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Candoni Prosecco Brut Sparkling Wine
Bellinis are made by combining Prosecco (an Italian sparking wine made from prosecco grapes in Veneto, close to Conegliano and Valdobbiadene) with peach puree. This is the drink of Venice, invented at Harry’s Bar by Giuseppe Cipriani and enjoyed by responsible drinkers like Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis and Orson Welles.
Bellinis are a great wake-me-up after a Saturday bender or a great refresher before a long hike / bike ride. The key thing here is that they’re easy to make (granted you have access to peach puree) and clean up is a cinch. A winning combo for a lazy Sunday brunch.
$ Red – Clos du Bois Rosé
Rosé is another great Sunday brunch wine – it’s a lightly pressed red wine that is chilled. You’ll often get the fruitiness of a red wine but the sharpness and coolness of a white wine. Since brunch is the combination of breakfast and lunch, wouldn’t it follow logically that a combination wine would be a perfect match?
$$ White – Chalk Hill Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a great brunch wine because it doesn’t overpower food and typically pairs with lighter fare. Unless you’re having heart-wrenching brunch of sloppy joes or steak and eggs, a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc should be a delightful selection.
$$ Red – Macrostie Carneros Pinot Noir
The great thing about Pinot Noir is it pairs well with many foods and fits in many different situations. Because many Pinots drink lightly, it would be a perfect fit for a light Sunday afternoon brunch. Mainly, it won’t leave you feeling like you just had a full meal after two glasses of it.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Wine Occasion: Super Bowl Party
Why shouldn’t you bring wine to a Super Bowl party? The Super Bowl is no longer a football event, but a social event. For half the people who watch the Super Bowl, this will be the only game during the football season they “watch”. It’s a safe assumption that not everyone is there for the game. So yes, the Super Bowl is a great format for wine.
If there is barbeque happening at this Super Bowl party, let’s make the assumption that we are talking about a barbeque party where they are drowning the ribs in either a vinegar or tomato based sauce. (Sorry to leave you out Texas.) Spicy or flavorful foods are often best paired with fruity white wines. And when I say fruity, I don’t mean effeminate either.
So what to bring? Something light. Or something heavy. Here are some suggestions.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Martin Codax Albariño Rias Baixas
In Spain, the region of Rias Baixas is known for a great white wine called Albariño (the grape varietal is also called Albariño). This wine has a great crisp flavor and it goes great with barbeque or strongly flavored foods (of which I’m sure there will be plenty). Since it’s your only football game of the year, you might as well try something new for wine also! Note: this might be difficult to find at a Safeway or Trader Joe’s…
$ Red – Qupe Central Coast Syrah
Football is an American game. I couldn’t well not include an American wine selection for a Super Bowl party, could I?
$$ White – Trimbach Reisling “Clos Sainte Hune”
On a personal note, I got to meet Humbert Trimbach a couple of years ago, and he is a prince of a man. His winery in Alsace, France, began in 1622, and has been creating wonderful wines for over four centuries. Alsatian Reisling is different from German Reisling in that it isn’t as sweet, but it has the great body and viscous flavors embodied by the Reisling grape. A magnificent pairing with barbeque or flavor foods, your friends will want to drink this on other Sundays as well. Note: this might be difficult to find at a Safeway or Trader Joe’s…
$$ Red – Kenwood Jack London Cabernet
See my note above about Qupe. It’s meat and it’s football. Smells like America to me. Remember, true patriots drink Napa Cab…
If there is barbeque happening at this Super Bowl party, let’s make the assumption that we are talking about a barbeque party where they are drowning the ribs in either a vinegar or tomato based sauce. (Sorry to leave you out Texas.) Spicy or flavorful foods are often best paired with fruity white wines. And when I say fruity, I don’t mean effeminate either.
So what to bring? Something light. Or something heavy. Here are some suggestions.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Martin Codax Albariño Rias Baixas
In Spain, the region of Rias Baixas is known for a great white wine called Albariño (the grape varietal is also called Albariño). This wine has a great crisp flavor and it goes great with barbeque or strongly flavored foods (of which I’m sure there will be plenty). Since it’s your only football game of the year, you might as well try something new for wine also! Note: this might be difficult to find at a Safeway or Trader Joe’s…
$ Red – Qupe Central Coast Syrah
Football is an American game. I couldn’t well not include an American wine selection for a Super Bowl party, could I?
$$ White – Trimbach Reisling “Clos Sainte Hune”
On a personal note, I got to meet Humbert Trimbach a couple of years ago, and he is a prince of a man. His winery in Alsace, France, began in 1622, and has been creating wonderful wines for over four centuries. Alsatian Reisling is different from German Reisling in that it isn’t as sweet, but it has the great body and viscous flavors embodied by the Reisling grape. A magnificent pairing with barbeque or flavor foods, your friends will want to drink this on other Sundays as well. Note: this might be difficult to find at a Safeway or Trader Joe’s…
$$ Red – Kenwood Jack London Cabernet
See my note above about Qupe. It’s meat and it’s football. Smells like America to me. Remember, true patriots drink Napa Cab…
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Wine Occasion: Anti-war Protest After Party / Anti-Bush Party / Any Party in San Francisco
We San Franciscans know how to throw a party. When there is a political, social, or economic issue, we rally and rush to the streets to protest. Then we head to the closest loft for a party to lament the current actions by the US government / NATO / Walmart. Of course, even anti-warmongers get hungry and thirsty, and what better way to support the cause then to bring some wine?
You must recognize, however, that your wine can’t come from a heartless mega-corporation that funds the machine. So target something that will reflect the belief systems of your fellow modern-day hippies. Don’t panic, it’s organic!
One big push in winemaking today is to be organic and biodynamic. No industrial strength pesticides that run-off into the Pacific Ocean and poison the tuna you’re eating tonight. No chemical fertilizers that were invented in a laboratory at UC Davis. Just good ole fashioned compost and fertilizer, al naturale. All of the following wine suggestions are certified organic (for the certifiable).
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Benziger Chardonnay
$ Red – Bonterra Zinfandel
$$ White – Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay
$$ Red – Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir
You must recognize, however, that your wine can’t come from a heartless mega-corporation that funds the machine. So target something that will reflect the belief systems of your fellow modern-day hippies. Don’t panic, it’s organic!
One big push in winemaking today is to be organic and biodynamic. No industrial strength pesticides that run-off into the Pacific Ocean and poison the tuna you’re eating tonight. No chemical fertilizers that were invented in a laboratory at UC Davis. Just good ole fashioned compost and fertilizer, al naturale. All of the following wine suggestions are certified organic (for the certifiable).
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – Benziger Chardonnay
$ Red – Bonterra Zinfandel
$$ White – Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay
$$ Red – Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wine Occasion: Meeting The Parents
The first dinner with the future in-laws can be tense. It is your job to make a good first impression, demonstrating that you are the best possible mate for their daughter. Obviously you have to bring a gift, and what better gift than a bottle of wine. Be careful here – this situation requires delicate balance. You want to seem sophisticated enough to know your wines. But you don’t want to seem like you drink SO much wine that you have a sophisticated knowledge. You want to buy a bottle of quality so you don’t seem spendthrift. However, you don’t want to buy too expensive of a bottle to seem extravagant and wasteful. Basically, good luck with all of that.
There are other considerations that you must confirm. First off, make sure the parents drink. And they approve of you drinking. And marrying their daughter. Once those things are out of the way, time to procrastinate your way to the wine aisle at the grocery store.
A side note: You might read in a lot of other places that you need to consider what’s for dinner, to pair red wines with meats and white wines with seafood and poultry. I am here to say that this is all crap. Drink what you like. Or at least what you think the future in-laws will like. That being said, ask your fiancé what her parents like to drink.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – La Ferme Julien Blanc
This is a wine from the Rhone Valley in France (you don’t need to know where it is, you just need to know that it’s pronounced “ROAN”). It’s made from the Perrin family, which is known for their wines in Southern Rhone – an area called Chateauneuf du Pape (the Pope’s New Castle). Did you know there were two papal centers in the 14th Century? One was in Rome, and the other in Avignon (Southern Rhone). See what interesting conversations you can find yourself with a bottle of wine?
$ Red – Sandeman Ruby Port Wine
I’m throwing a curveball here. Port is a dessert wine from Portugal, so it’s to be drunken AFTER dinner. There are different styles of Port, and I’ve suggested here a Ruby style. This is a bit more sweet and the style name connotes the color as well. This is a solid choice because it’s drinkable for mom yet masculine enough for dad. You win both ways.
$$ White - Veuve Cliquot Champagne Brut
This is the classic standard for all champagnes. And yes – this is champagne because it was made from grapes grown in Champagne, France. All other sparkling wines NOT made in Champagne are called sparkling wines, NOT Champagne. Okay, sorry, I needed to get that off my chest.
Anyway, about Veuve Cliquot - François Clicquot owned a champagne house in the early 19th century but died young. His bride, Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin, became a veuve (French for widow), and took over the family business, making it into the success it is today. She also wore black for the rest of her life, never remarrying and instead mourning her fallen husband till the end of her days. You can mention to the future in-laws this is what you expect from their daughter as well.
$$ Red - Trefethen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
You cannot go wrong by buying Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the quintessential American wine. Napa Cab (as Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa is also known) made Americans proud because in the 70’s, they trounced French Bordeaux wines (the region in France also known for its Cabernet Sauvignon) in blind taste tests. Therefore, any red-blooded American will LOVE Napa Cab. It’s just patriotic to do so.
Note: If your fiancé and/or her parents is/are from France, buy Bordeaux and claim that the blind tastings in the 70’s were rigged…
There are other considerations that you must confirm. First off, make sure the parents drink. And they approve of you drinking. And marrying their daughter. Once those things are out of the way, time to procrastinate your way to the wine aisle at the grocery store.
A side note: You might read in a lot of other places that you need to consider what’s for dinner, to pair red wines with meats and white wines with seafood and poultry. I am here to say that this is all crap. Drink what you like. Or at least what you think the future in-laws will like. That being said, ask your fiancé what her parents like to drink.
Wine Suggestions:
$ White – La Ferme Julien Blanc
This is a wine from the Rhone Valley in France (you don’t need to know where it is, you just need to know that it’s pronounced “ROAN”). It’s made from the Perrin family, which is known for their wines in Southern Rhone – an area called Chateauneuf du Pape (the Pope’s New Castle). Did you know there were two papal centers in the 14th Century? One was in Rome, and the other in Avignon (Southern Rhone). See what interesting conversations you can find yourself with a bottle of wine?
$ Red – Sandeman Ruby Port Wine
I’m throwing a curveball here. Port is a dessert wine from Portugal, so it’s to be drunken AFTER dinner. There are different styles of Port, and I’ve suggested here a Ruby style. This is a bit more sweet and the style name connotes the color as well. This is a solid choice because it’s drinkable for mom yet masculine enough for dad. You win both ways.
$$ White - Veuve Cliquot Champagne Brut
This is the classic standard for all champagnes. And yes – this is champagne because it was made from grapes grown in Champagne, France. All other sparkling wines NOT made in Champagne are called sparkling wines, NOT Champagne. Okay, sorry, I needed to get that off my chest.
Anyway, about Veuve Cliquot - François Clicquot owned a champagne house in the early 19th century but died young. His bride, Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin, became a veuve (French for widow), and took over the family business, making it into the success it is today. She also wore black for the rest of her life, never remarrying and instead mourning her fallen husband till the end of her days. You can mention to the future in-laws this is what you expect from their daughter as well.
$$ Red - Trefethen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
You cannot go wrong by buying Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the quintessential American wine. Napa Cab (as Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa is also known) made Americans proud because in the 70’s, they trounced French Bordeaux wines (the region in France also known for its Cabernet Sauvignon) in blind taste tests. Therefore, any red-blooded American will LOVE Napa Cab. It’s just patriotic to do so.
Note: If your fiancé and/or her parents is/are from France, buy Bordeaux and claim that the blind tastings in the 70’s were rigged…
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Things to Consider When Choosing Wine
So how should we start? There are five things to consider before making any wine purchase. I will list them, in order of least to most important.
1) What you're eating
I will make a statement later in the guide that dispels the common notion that you drink red wines with meat and white wines with poultry, seafood, vegetables, and soccer moms. However, there is some merit in considering the menu that will be served at whatever event to which you’re bringing the wine.
For example, most red wines are very strong and can over power food. That’s why steak and other hearty foods are paired with red wines – because the hearty foods can stand up to the strong red wine. Now image drinking a really big red wine with a delicate sliver of butter fish. What will you taste? I’ll tell you – you won’t taste the butter fish!
Therefore, it is important to consider what you’re eating. For a barbeque, bring a red wine from California. For Burning Man, bring a white wine (I’m assuming that there will be plenty of vegetarians to hang out with in the desert). You get the picture.
2) What’s the occasion
For example, don’t bring a $200 bottle of French Bordeaux to a weenie roast. Or Two Buck Chuck to your boss’ retirement at the Ritz. We will assist you with this consideration in Part 1.
3) Who’s your audience
This ties in with the previous consideration. You’re hanging with your bros watching a game? Not the best time to crack out the Burgundy.
Remember, when bringing wine to any occasion, you must consider who will be there and consequently consider what they will like to drink. A better bet would be to think about the hosts and what they like to drink. You will never get kicked out of a party by being considerate to the hosts.
4) Your personality
This is where you can make a statement on who you are or what your interests are. You spent a year in the Outback studying cacti? Buy some Australian Shiraz. You hate America? Buy some French Bordeaux. You have an affinity to former landlocked international powers that flamed out in the mid-nineteenth century? There are some lovely Austrian wines for you.
Wines can be a wonderful departure point for interesting and poignant conversations. Let the wine you select represent you and allow you to share more about yourself to your hosts.
5) What you like
Above all else, to thine own self be true. Drink what you like. You like sweet wines? Get some Blue Nun (or real German Reisling). You like cherries jubilee? Get some Cabernet Sauvignon. You don’t like white wine? Get some red wine.
The most important thing here is that you bring wines that you’re happy with and you’re proud of drinking. Your wine is good enough, it’s smart enough, and by gosh people like it!
1) What you're eating
I will make a statement later in the guide that dispels the common notion that you drink red wines with meat and white wines with poultry, seafood, vegetables, and soccer moms. However, there is some merit in considering the menu that will be served at whatever event to which you’re bringing the wine.
For example, most red wines are very strong and can over power food. That’s why steak and other hearty foods are paired with red wines – because the hearty foods can stand up to the strong red wine. Now image drinking a really big red wine with a delicate sliver of butter fish. What will you taste? I’ll tell you – you won’t taste the butter fish!
Therefore, it is important to consider what you’re eating. For a barbeque, bring a red wine from California. For Burning Man, bring a white wine (I’m assuming that there will be plenty of vegetarians to hang out with in the desert). You get the picture.
2) What’s the occasion
For example, don’t bring a $200 bottle of French Bordeaux to a weenie roast. Or Two Buck Chuck to your boss’ retirement at the Ritz. We will assist you with this consideration in Part 1.
3) Who’s your audience
This ties in with the previous consideration. You’re hanging with your bros watching a game? Not the best time to crack out the Burgundy.
Remember, when bringing wine to any occasion, you must consider who will be there and consequently consider what they will like to drink. A better bet would be to think about the hosts and what they like to drink. You will never get kicked out of a party by being considerate to the hosts.
4) Your personality
This is where you can make a statement on who you are or what your interests are. You spent a year in the Outback studying cacti? Buy some Australian Shiraz. You hate America? Buy some French Bordeaux. You have an affinity to former landlocked international powers that flamed out in the mid-nineteenth century? There are some lovely Austrian wines for you.
Wines can be a wonderful departure point for interesting and poignant conversations. Let the wine you select represent you and allow you to share more about yourself to your hosts.
5) What you like
Above all else, to thine own self be true. Drink what you like. You like sweet wines? Get some Blue Nun (or real German Reisling). You like cherries jubilee? Get some Cabernet Sauvignon. You don’t like white wine? Get some red wine.
The most important thing here is that you bring wines that you’re happy with and you’re proud of drinking. Your wine is good enough, it’s smart enough, and by gosh people like it!
The Start of a Simple Guide
I’m sure you’ve experienced the following scenario: you’re late for a party and you have ten minutes to run into a grocery store, pick up a bottle of wine, and arrive at the shindig before all the booze/girls/food is gone. One problem – you don’t know jack about wine. What should you get?
We’ve written this to guide you through this dire strait. We will teach you, nurture you, and then set you off into the world so you can forever be capable of choosing the best bottle of wine for any given occasion. In turn, your fellow party-goers and hosts will respect you more, like you more, and hopefully invite you again next time.
Of course, wine is not one size fits all. You might have to do a little research to find the right place to get these wines. (On a side note, when did “googling” constitute research?). Most of these selections should be available at a local Safeway or Trader Joe’s. If you’re lucky enough to have a wine shop close by, you can ask the shopkeeper for suggestions of similar wines.
More to come!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
