Snob in training
It seems like everywhere I go lately, people are talking about wine. Since NikkiZ was born, I decided I would try to learn enough about wine so that I would not embarrass myself in public when ordering or buying it. I’ve always liked wine, (and by “wine” I mean Boone’s Farm) so I didn’t think it would be a big deal. I started out knowing two things: I don’t like red wine because it reminds me of church (damn catholicism) and I could never have enough pink wine in a box. It’s totally my fave.
(My brother just died of embarrassment that I admitted that.)
I’ve been buying random bottles of wine based on label and price for several months. I’ve been hating most of them. I wanted to stick with pink wines since I thought I liked those, but most bottles don’t show you the color of the wine inside, so I gave up on that. Of course, I never pay attention to the hits (what few there were) or misses along the way, I just know that most of them I didn’t like. I bought a $28 bottle of wine one time just because the name and label were cool (Cardinal Zin) – but I ended up hating that one too. And let me tell you – nothing hurts worse than pouring a $28 bottle of wine down the sink. I’m still scarred from that. I ended up just giving up for awhile, deciding that until they started serving boxed wine at restaurants – I’d just have to stick with my beer.
(Michelob Ultra. I like cheap beer too.)
When I went to Tucson my brother and his girlfriend schooled me on wine. Well, let me re-phrase that. My brother mocked me for my ignorance and made fun of my cheap tastes (that’s what brothers are for) while his girlfriend quizzed me on what I liked and chose wines for me to try. Some-wines-I-Can’t-Remember and a Riesling. I love, love, loved the Riesling and will be forever grateful for her for helping me find a wine that won’t make me look stupid when I order it.
That said – I still felt like an idiot through the entire process. The whole swirl-the-glass-around and then sniff-the-wine techniques – what is that about? I mean, I felt like a total idiot doing that. Hell, even when I ordered it, I felt like the waitress knew I didn’t know what I was talking about. I was really glad I didn’t like any wines with the name “Pinot” in them, because I don’t like saying that word. I feel like I’m saying it wrong. And Pinot Noir? Dude. I wouldn’t even try that one, I don’t want to find out I love a wine I can’t pronounce correctly.
So – long story short? I’m taking baby steps to learn about wine. I still prefer my Michelob Ultra, It’s the college football fan in me, but I like to be well-rounded. I just wish I could be well-rounded without looking like a moron.
You don’t have to dump the bottle of wine because you didn’t like to drink it… COOK with it!
I hate wine. Can’t stand it. Any of them. But when they hand out free bottles at work, I take them home.
There is nothing better than a big hand full of pasta boiled in a huge pot of boiling wine. Add a little meat and veggies. Easy peasey… and good.
I kinda feel the same way. I love “Muscat” wines. If you like wines that are a little sweet, try that sometime. It’s a “dessert” wine so it might not go with all kinds of food. But I love it.
I’m an even bigger dork when it comes to beer because I don’t really like beer but I do love and enjoy hard ciders. So don’t feel too bad.
My husband and I are trying to learn ourselves about some wine as well. Which means lots o’ bottles poured down the drain (so far we’ve been sticking with the $10 ones though, which may have a lot to do with why they’re all being promptly disposed of.)
Despite my attempts to find a real wine I enjoy, my favorite is still Arbor Mist. =)
I love the pink wine too. It’s called Zinfandel, so even if it’s sold in a black bottle you’ll know what to buy. I always go with local wines, because I figure if I’ve driven by the vineyard in my lifetime it must be good stuff. Not a very smart theory, but it’s worked for me up to now. We do live in BC though (wine country), so we have lots of local vineyards.
And I also hate red wine, but that’s because I think it looks like blood.
dude, i love reisling! i’m like you, and don’t know much abut wine. but reisling is a type that you can get in any brand (to my experience) and it’ll taste pretty good. so you can go to the grocery store and find the $10 bottle and trust that you’ll like it.
This is the first time I have ever commented here, but I had to, because the thought of the pretty, pretty wine going down the drain must have sparked some weird, desperate emotion in me.
Anyway, I think people get intimidated by wine because they think you have to learn a lot, or be able to pronounce French, or match it skilfully with your food, but I don’t think any of that is really true. I mean, the food thing: no one cares about that anymore, so just order what you like and don’t worry about it “complementing” your meal. And if you buy a bottle that you hate when you open it, just pour out that glass, cork it back up, and try again in a day or two. The flavor will have mellowed a bit, and it will be less “ew, alcohol” tasting and smoother.
Also, I have to tell you this: in my local market the other day, I spied some wine called “Zoot Allures.” (It’s a pun on the French saying “zut alors,” which means, roughly, “dammit.” I think.) Anyway, I think it was just a “table red” or something, I forget, but the point is, it’s called “Zoot Allures.” How can you not like that? (Disclaimer: I have not tried this wine.)
Oh, and if you like Riesling you may like Gewurztraminer, which is also sweet. Just call it “Guh-VOORTZ.”
Oh, and one more thing: Love reading your blog!
I must say that Pinot Noir is one of my absolute favorites! Too bad my favorite one, made by Erath, is sold out everywhere in NC and I just took my last bottle to a party. Guess how much of it I drank? One glass. When I went back to get some more, it was GONE! Those wine junkies drank it all!!!
Man, I totally relate to this post. I have a BIL/SIL who are total wine snobs. I brought them a bottle as a house warming gift one time only to witness them exchanging looks. They promply tucked the bottle we brought into a cabinet and opened one of their own bottles. @@
I remember my parents always bought this German reisling at Christmas time…there was a little black cat token hanging from the bottle. I loved that. It was tasty wine too. Blue Nun was always tasty. I like certain kinds of champagne. And dark red wine, sometimes…cabernet savignon. It helped that I took French for a few years in school, so I don’t feel odd about saying the names of common French style wines outloud. LOL Pee-no Nu-waar. Pinot Noir. There you go.
I was going to recommend a Riesling. Nice and fruity and not too dry. It’s my favorite—but I also like the drier Chardonnays. Another good one that’s comparable to a Riesling is Liebfraumilch (pronounced leeb-frow-milk). It’s German in case that wasn’t obvious.
I am totally not a wine snob. I don’t like red wine (why does it always make me feel like I’m wearing a sweater on my tongue? blech) & I have no problem drinking Gewurztraminer with beef or pasta with red sauce. (The horror!) I’m also not going to get my knickers in a twist because it’s only $10 or $15 or whatever. And I’m extra happy if it comes in a pretty bottle! I do think the Reislings from Germany are the best though. Try the Gewurztraminer. It sounds funny, but it is scrumptious, so much better than white zin.
My hubbie and I went to a fancy schmancy restaurant on vacation last month and he ordered a wine because of the name “Conundrum” a $50 bottle of wine with a screw top!! Needless to say, the snobby waiter refused to “do the cork and bottle thing” with the screw top, so hubbie decided to order another bottle just for the fun of watching him hide from his fellow wine stewards. We (well, I but my husband is a really good sport about sharing a bottle of white since I can’t drink reds) really enjoyed it and still laugh about the snobby steward!
Piesporter Michaelsberg Auslese. Yum.
I second the Liebframilch (which loosely translated means mother’s milk, meaning you must try it!)
AND Riunite makes a brand called D’oro which is like $3 or $4 bucks for a small bottle and is great!
All of these are less that $20 and some of the smaller bottles are less than $10.
The cheaper the red wine is, the less likely it is to make all your spit dry up and pucker your face like a prune. A cheaper lambrusco is ok, again I am back to Riunite. Red is healthier than whites.
Some suggestions:
Bonny Doon – Dry Riesling, usually $8-12 depending on where you live.
Do you have a Trader Joe’s near you? If so, they bottle their own Rose (pink wine!) that is great and affordable.
As a rule, German rielslings tend to be very safe and good. Also, Gruner Veltliner are dry and not too sweet, and can be more affordable than German whites. Let me know if you want more suggestions!
Lambrusco will make a great Sangria—email me if you’d like the recipe. With regards to the screw tops—it seems more and more even the upscale wines are heading this way so don’t feel like it’s cheap or unclassy. The corks tend to dry out if the wines aren’t stored properly and the screw top keeps it just as fresh without the little cork floaters in your glass.
First – love your blog!!
Second – try this web site:
http://www.yumyuk.com/cgi-bin/loadinterview.cgi
You enter things about your general tastes (do you prefer salty or sweet, what’s your perfect cup of coffeee, favorite liquor/beer) etc. and it comes back with all kinds of wine suggestions based on your tastes in general.
It’s how I discovered some of my favorites… after pouring bottles down the drain just like you!
I just tried that website that Tracy suggested and it was spot on with my favorites!
Berringer, Sutter Home, or Delicato White Zifandel
Those are my faves. I also like Arbor Mist Exoctic Fruits Zifandel. But, according to my boss, that’s not a wine, it’s a “wine product.”
you look like a natural!
when i first became a wino, i had to hold the glass with both hands too – once you get all experienced with it, you’ll hold it in one hand and swirl it all around and NOT spill it all over yourself.
keep up the good work!
kendell jackson chardonnay is actually good too –
rieslings are awesome and sweet though!!!
Me likey wine too.
I really know nothing about wine, except when I like something I like it. I like Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio.
I get the worst headache from red wine (those silly tannins and stuff) so I stick to white. I’ve learned a trick to not looking like an idiot when ordering at a restaurant, I ask for the “House Chardonnay.” I don’t know exactly what that means (are they giving me the leftovers from someone else’s bottle of wine?) but I always end up with a good glass. Maybe because I’m pretending to put good faith in the server.
Also? If you ever come across a Honey Mead, buy it. You won’t be disappointed.
Hahaha… when I first got into wine, I gravitated toward the reds BECAUSE of my Catholic upbringing. I guess I just developed a taste for it after so many Sunday sips, and the dryness didn’t really hit me like it would have otherwise.
I’m not a wine snob either, but you should really try Yellow Tail… it’s an Aussie, and it comes in all different kinds (dark bottles, but you can go by the color of the label, hee!). Not too expensive, either, so if you find one you don’t like, it’s no major loss.
Reisling was actually MY $30 bottle of wine down the drain. For some reason, it just left me with the impression of… rancid meat, or something. Ugh.
I don’t mind looking like a moron at all. Just last Saturday night I announced to the whole liquor store, “Can someone recommend a champagne that is cheap and good?” I left with a bottle of Ballatore (and two six-packs of Raspberry Woodchuck Cider, a bottle of Alizé Gold Passion, a bottle of Alizé Red Passion, and a bottle of Evan Williams Eggnog.)
I’ve also heard that Two Buck Chuck (Charles Shaw) is a pretty good wine.
A couple of things. The pink wine in a box is called Zinfadel(sp), in fact I think it is white Zinfadel even though it is pink.
My neighbors had some friends that convinced her that since the wine in a box is actually wine in a bag in a box that it is what astronauts drink in space; therefore Space Wine. I loved that.
Rose` is another blush, or pink, wine that you might like.
Yes, Reisling is very good.
Wine is really like a crap shoot. You have to try different ones. I tend to like sweet wines. I was on a red kick for awhile but now I am getting into white. Start from cheap and work your way up.
And, um, graduate from Boones Farm, m’kay?
I am totally a wine snob. Although I enjoy a bargain wine too, just because I am also totally cheap.
The pink wine I would recommend is Rose (roh-zay). Ask for a sweet, not dry one and you should hit on something you like. If you can find it, Nicholson Ranch makes a kicking Rose. Plus, you can absolutely order Rose anywhere and not be embarassed. For that matter, many people don’t know what a Rose is, so you are officially smarter than them and can gloat over your superior wine choice.
If you want to learn to drink reds, go for a nice Syrah. Ask for one with blackberry or cherry and tell them you don’t want it to be spicy.
Enough wine talk. The pregnant woman is now jealous and jonesing here.
This—> http://www.duplinwinery.com/
is a GREAT winery that makes awesome wine. I’ve pretty much liked anything they have ever made. And I’m NOT a wine drinker, but give me a bottle of this stuff and OMG. And they make this Christmas Wine that is TO DIE FOR. Love it.
And I recommend doing a tasting somewhere so that way you know for wure what you don’t like. Good Luck on your wine adventure.
Can’t help out much, LOL, I am a 13 dollar white zinfandel girl. I LOVE blush. LOL!
I know that I like a chardonnay better then a savigion (sp) and that’s about it oh., and that I don’t like red. LOL
That’s really awesome that you’re learning more about wine. I hope you find out everything you want to know!
Oh my gosh! I have always wanted to be a “grown up” and enjoy wine, because it makes me feel so ultra cool. But usually? I take a sip and want to spit it out. Cool huh? Then I went out to dinner at an ultra expensive restaurant for a holiday party last year and tried a riesling, and I loved it! Had 3 whole glasses!! It is a german riesling called “von kesselstat”, so if you see it in your wine store, buy some! It is sweet and yummy!
Now that I am on the west coast I can’t seem to find it anywhere, but maybe you’ll have luck. It’s awesome!!
Dude, I bet you’d like Black Tower. Sadly, you will not look sophisticated drinking it and I bet you can’t find a restaurant that would carry it, but it sounds like it’s up your alley and it’s my favourite wine. If you seriously want to figure out what you like and taste the difference in wines, go to a winery for a wine tasting. I had a blast doing that in Germany once and I finally did notice a difference between wines and figured out that yep, I like the sweet stuff. And don’t listen to people who say that “as you develop an appreciation for wine you’ll start to like them more dry”. I haven’t and I don’t think I will. I don’t even want to.
Oh my goodness. Coming from one of the best wine regions on the planet (Barossa Valley, South Australia) I find all this sacrilege!
Pinot Noir = Peeno Nwahrr
If you dont like a red (particularly reds) upon opening, decant the wine (pour it into a decanter or a jug or whatever) and leave it for an hour or two. The oxygen changes the flavour dramatically. Generally, the more expensive the red, the longer it needs to cellar before you drink it. A one year old red that coasts $30 is NOT a drink-now wine!
Another white wine you might like is a Sauvignon Blanc (So-vin-yon Bluhnc). Its a fruity white, with passionfruit and melon characteristics.
And who said “best Rieslings come from Germany”??? Different countries have very different methods of winemaking. Australia is the only country that doesnt add sugar to their wines, for example, so you get a very different wine style from a European wine. Try wines from lots of countries, and dont assume that the more you pay the better the wine. Excellent wines can be had for $10, or less.
Here endeth the lesson.
Ok, I’m kind of the oposite from a lot of these posts. I am kind of a wine snob. That being said I sold wine for years and I’m also more into the semi sweet wines. My favorite won’t do you wrong. I promise you will try it and never buy anything but this wine again. I have never met a person that didn’t really enjoy it. Hogue Late Harvest White Riesling. Here’s the website address http://www.hoguecellars.com/hogue.php so you can see the bottle before you go in to buy it. Make sure it says LATE HARVEST or you may not like it. No I do not work for them, my husband and I had this bottle the night we got engaged. Oh, and here in Texas it runs about $8 a bottle so it doesn’t kill you pocket.
You are coming a long way, young grasshopper. When you are really feeling low, just remembetr that I had to ask somebody once for a very special wine called “Molly Dooker.” Dooker? I mean c’mon. But it was well worth it, humilty and all.
Sometime sounding stupid is worth it.
I was the same way. Completely ignorant when it came to wine but did the trial and error thing anyway. My husband and I came to LOVE Riesling! In fact, when I fly to Anchorage, I always buy several bottles to bring back to the village. It’s perfect. Not too sweet, not too bitter, not too dry. In fact, I think the 8 dollar bottle tastes just as good as the 30 dollar bottle. Yay Rieslings!
I am so not a wine snob. I try new wines when I can. I did try a $30 Riesling that I loved. But I like to keep a cheap wine on hand so I can have a glass if I feel like it. I like Gallo Cafe Chardonnay. It is a white that is not dry and goes very well with alot of dishes. For steak? I love a glass of fizzy red Riunite Lambrusco. It is flavorful with a fizz to it and goes great with a grilled ribeye and salad. And for fun? Try some Ballatore Gran Spumante, it is sweet and fizzy and I can suck down a whole bottle by myself. Its also very affordable.
OK, seriously, this is too freakin’ weird. I don’t think you read my blog. I have read yours on occasion and enjoy it but haven’t read in at least two months. I come over here to check you out, and we have written ON.THE.EXACT.SAME.SUBJECT a day apart.
And I even wrote about how I cannot say the Pinots either! Go check it out and tell me we are not soul sippin’ sisters or what. SO.FREAKING.WEIRD.
I think we need to drink together. Seriously. I am stumped.
Whoops, here it is: Manic Mom’s Mental Myriads: Life in Wine
Mmmm Wine!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t like red wine for that reason.
There are a lot of things you can cook with wine if you decide you don’t like a bottle that you’ve bought. I cook shrimp in white wine, olive oil, garlic, parsley, scallions, and crushed red pepper. I use red wine to make a pan sauce for steak and to add some extra flavor to red pasta sauces.
The pink boxed wine is typically White Zinfandel. Zinfandel (without the white in the name) is a red wine. Rose is also a light red in color, but has a very different flavor than White Zin.
The red wine sweater tongue effect is the result of tannins in the wine. Some red wines are more or less tannic (I get migraines from very tannic wine), so the commenter above who doesn’t like sweater tongue might have more luck with different reds. I usually stick with pinot noir and shiraz.
Trader Joe’s is a great place to pick up wine, but if you are looking to try something new or find something specific, going to a wine or liquor store can be really helpful. The employees at a good store will be able to help you find something that meets your needs.
Finally, don’t be nervous if you buy what you think is a good bottle of wine and find it topped with a screw cap. Screw caps eliminate the problem of bottles of wine getting “corked” and are slowly gaining popularity in some wine producing regions. New Zealand was the first place to start using screw tops across the board. Some American and Australian wines also have screw caps (I’ve seen it more recently on a few Oregon Pinot noirs).
I love wine, I usually drink pretty cheap wine, but I don’t really like liquor or beer, so I drink wine everywhere I go. I think that it doesn’t have to be snobby, it’s not really different than beer – you just find what you like and there are a wide range of types and prices. It also can add a lot to a meal, you don’t have to pair your wine with your food, but if you do find a good pairing, the wine makes the food taste better and vice versa. I think of it as another flavor for the meal – just like adding garlic or something.
Mmmmm. Wine.
Another you should try is Alice White Lexia. It’s easy to find at the grocery store, I belive it has an orange label with a kangaroo on it. It’s sweet but not strongly so and way good.
You’ve got a lot of drinking to do. Hop to it!
I moved to Northern California where I finally got a job in the wine business and then promptly (day 2) found out I was pregnant. I’m pretty sure it’s the most unfair thing EVER, but I am getting quite a wine collection since I can’t drink anything I take home.
First, seconding Kate’s suggestion, watch out when you order/buy a Zinfandel because regular Zinfandel is red, white Zinfandel is pink.
Second, wine is totally subjective. I’ve had wines that everyone raves about, that are high end and expensive, and haven’t particularly liked them. Everyone’s tastes are different, so don’t feel embarrassed or weird about it. My suggestion would be to go into a wine shop and just be honest about what you like or don’t like. Someone working in a good wine shop will be (should be!) able to help you find something that suits your tastes and price range.
Last, a great dessert wine (goes great with chocolate cake!) is an Ice Wine. Ice wines are sweet and delicious, and they’re made from grapes that are harvested after the first frost, later than other grapes. They are a little on the pricier side ($20-ish/bottle), but would be fantastic with holiday desserts, etc. and I think you’ll like it. One brand I can recommend if you can find it is Hunt Country Ice Wine, which is made in upstate NY. There are also quite a few German ice wines that are good, too, but I can’t think of names to suggest. Oh, and If you like Reisling, you’ll likely also like Muscat.
It’s only 7:45 a.m. out here and I’m getting thirsty just writing this. Damn.
Just a warning – I saw one of the comments to the last entry recommend Zinfandel as a pink wine, commenting that since you knew the name you could buy it in a black bottle. That would be WHITE Zinfandel. Just plain Zinfandel is a red wine. Zinfandel is usually a good choice for me (so, what I order at restaraunts if I have to just make a wild guess), but if your drinking the pink, sorta sweet wine I think it’s safe to say you would not like it.
Aw. I missed this conversation. I did a bartending course a few years ago and before that, I was the same as you. Although I’ve forgotten most of what I learnt (although for a while there I could talk adequitely) (sorry, Lohan spelling) a Riesling is a great choice…I normally order Sauvignon Blanc but lately I’ve sort of gone off all wine so I just drink beer. Easy!
This is TOTALLY me! I SO pick wines off the shelf by cool label and/or price! But that is SUCH a gamble. Just last week I chose something called “47 Pound Rooster” or something because I thought it was funny.
I was lucky enough to be introduced to Reislings a few years ago after my husband was deployed in Germany. So when MY BIL/SIL took us out to a wine bar the other night, I ordered one and felt SO proud of myself.
And I don’t even know what the label looked like!
Hey, I am learning about wines too. I still know very little, but I do know what I like. Here are a few you might like to try…they are cheap and probably not up to wine snob quality, but they have neat bottles
. The price ranges from $7-$13 at Wal Mart (ok, I just embarrassed myself). Barefoot Cellars-White Zinfandel, LLano Estacado-Blush. Relax-Reisling, and St. Genevieve-Sweet Muscat.