There are many things in life that intimidate me – modern
car engines, tax forms, computer viruses.
But not wine. Yes, I’m from
California. Yes, I've worked at a
winery. Yes, I’ve earned a certificate
from the prestigious UC Davis wine appreciation program. But learning all the complexities is like
learning a foreign language – if you don’t use it, you lose it. I admit: I’ve
forgotten more about wine than I’ve retained. And so, when people turn to me for advice
about what wine to order, I developed a bit of shorthand.
Do you ever drink wine
or spirits? If spirits, are you a mixed
drink or straight person? Do you drink
black coffee or lattes? Do you drink
full-sugar soda or diet? Orange juice,
cranberry juice, or grapefruit juice?
Prefer chocolate for dessert or fresh fruit? Season your steak with salt/pepper, a
combination of dry seasonings, or a creamy sauce?
You don’t need answers to all the questions, just a starting
point, a hint, a clue. And you don’t
need to follow the “wine rules” (red with red meat, white with
fish/poultry). That’s old school. My cheat sheet is below. My caveat: this is a system that works for
me. You might have different preferences
and that’s okay, too.
If I’m with people who don’t normally drink wine, I veer
toward white wine, usually something lighter, like a Sauvignon Blanc. These wines – especially the ones from New
Zealand – are very soft and subtle and generally please everyone. Sauvignon Blancs from California tend to have
a hint of grapefruit. If you’ve got full-sugar
soda or orange/cranberry juice drinkers, try a Riesling or a Moscato –
although these aren’t what I’d recommend drinking with your main course, as
they’re rather sweet. If someone likes
lattes or chocolate, a “rich, full-bodied” Chardonnay
would be good (stay away from “oaky” Chards for this type of drinker). One warning about Chardonnays: they come in
more flavor variation than jelly beans – never assume if you like one Chard,
you’ll like another. Finally, if you
have a mixed bag of flavors being mentioned in your group, try a white wine blend. These are usually lighter in body and flavor,
blended to please a broader spectrum of wine drinkers. Some have a hint of sweetness, some a hint of
brown spice or floral notes, so they aren’t boring.
If I’m with wine drinkers, I’ll veer toward red wine. Merlot
is something I choose for people who like creamy sauces and is safe for a mix
of wine appreciation levels (hard to screw up and not a wine with tons of
different flavors at affordable levels).
If people like black pepper and strong spices, I might choose a Syrah or Chianti. If chocolate or
lattes came up, I might choose a Pinot
Noir, but one from a drier climate (Oregon Pinots taste softer to me). If there were preferences for fruit for
dessert, I might choose a Zinfandel
or a Shiraz. I’ll choose a Cabernet Sauvignon if people like strong flavors (black coffee,
pepper, straight spirits) and there is red meat coming to the table (probably
the only wine type that I consider doesn’t go well with white meat or fish –
but that’s just me). Remember how I
compared Chards to jelly beans? Same
applies to Cabs – lots of styles and flavors, therefore harder to pick one that
pleases a variety of palates.
Wine is a lot like the different coffee drinks available at
Starbucks. You can get a plain, but
good, cup of coffee, add different tastes to that cup (shake some cinnamon on
top, add creamy whip, etc.), or have the coffee be a complement to heavier
flavors (chocolate, caramel, etc.). It
fits your mood and your taste buds. Wine
does the same thing. Selecting a wine is a little adventure and when you ask
people for their preferences, they become vested in that adventure with you
(and therefore the adventure’s success isn’t all on your shoulders). If you’re nervous about making a decision,
you can always ask for a taste of something to see if you like it before you
commit. Have fun!
Melinda Curtis writes the Harmony Valley series of sweet
romances set in a small town winery for the Harlequin Heartwarming line. Brenda Novak says: “Season of Change has found a place on my
keeper shelf”. Melinda also writes
independently published, hotter romances as Mel Curtis. Jayne Ann Krentz says
of Blue Rules: “Sharp,
sassy, modern version of a screwball comedy from Hollywood's Golden Age except
a lot hotter.” Melinda is
married to her college sweetheart, and has three kids in college. She follows the NFL because one young
quarterback is from her hometown, and follows Duke basketball because Mr.
Curtis has a man crush on Coach K. Her
latest release is Season of Change. You can learn more
about her books at www.MelindaCurtis.net.
Would love to hear if you have a favorite wine or if you have a question about which wine to choose for dinner tonight!
ReplyDeleteI never learned to appreciate wine, preferring ales and some beers. But this is very helpful to know what to buy when I have the family over!
ReplyDeleteI'm generally not all that keen on wine - if I go out I'd generally choose a beer - but funny you mention it, because I was out tonight for dinner at friends and they served a Moscato which I'd never heard of, and it was so nice!! It is now my fav wine.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about breaking down wines by what people like - what a clever concept, Mel! But I can say yes to liking everything in your post, so I guess that means I like all kinds of wine, which is pretty true if they're good. Except I don't like champagne. Not fitting for a romance writer, is it?
ReplyDeleteFascinating! When hubby and I visited the Sonoma valley we went on a couple of really interesting winery tours. Lovely area. I don't drink any alcohol, I'm afraid. I'm a water and herbal tea girl. Trying to be healthy!
ReplyDelete