Wine 101

I'm a wine slut. I'll admit it right up front. I've never--well, practically never--met a wine I didn't like. So I've been wanting to blog about this for a while, even though I know this has absolutely nothing to do with writing. Still, it seems like such a huge topic that I'm not sure where to begin.

At the beginning, I suppose.

My interest in wine all started close to fifteen years ago when my father-in-law passed away. He was a wine connoisseur way before wine became as popular as it is today. This was a guy who bought wine futures, he knew so much about the market. I never even knew there was such a thing as wine futures until meeting him. He basically paid for most of the wine he drank by trading out either the futures or cases of wine that had appreciated in value for newer, cheaper wines.

He had a very good relationship with one of our local wine shops and actually stored his cellar with them while he was traveling. If a wine he held in his cellar appreciated too much, he wouldn't drink it. He traded it out for something less expensive. Because you know what? You don't have to spend an arm and a leg for a nice bottle of wine.

When he passed away, my dh and I bought about half of the wine in my father-in-law's cellar, even though we didn't know much about wine at the time. It's been a fun thing to have, especially for my husband. I've been happy to learn a lot about wine as a result.

I could probably write several blogs on the whole topic of wine, but I thought I'd start with some basic information. If you already know all this, sorry to bore you. It was all very confusing to me in the beginning. And if I get my facts mixed up, I apologize up front. I'm going mostly from memory and we all know how accurate that can be for a woman "of a certain age."

Merlot, Cabernet Savignon, Shiraz/Syrah, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and such, are all types of red grapes. Savignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Reisling, and Grenache, and such, are all types of white grapes.

On the other hand, Chianti, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Sauterne, and Rioja, to name a few, all refer to the region in which the wines are made.

Don't be afraid to try lesser known types of grapes. There are often great deals. Reds like Carménère, Malbec, Tempranillo, Sangiovese/Brunello, and whites like Pecorino and Muscat (sweet) are all great wines. You may just find a new favorite.

Personally, I think you should stay away from the gimicky labels. I've tried too many of them that, well, suck. But you don't need to spend more than $15/$20 for a nice bottle of wine and for every day stuff $10 oughta do it. Did you know that women are the big wine buyers in the U.S., so a lot of the labels are directed toward us? Try stuff, but don't fall for all that marketing crap. Sometimes the best wines have the most simple labels.

There is no doubt that certain types of food go with certain types of wine. Generally speaking the stronger the flavor of the food, the stronger the wine should be, simply because it needs to hold up against the power of the food flavors. But absolutely do not worry about it. You like whites, order a white even if you're having prime rib. You like reds, get a red, even if you're having shrimp or fish. You'll see for yourself what wines hold up with what foods.

Red wines, given optimal conditions, stored on their side at a cool temperature, will last for decades - we're talking fifty years. Whites, not so much. Except for Sauternes. They last for a very long time and will actually improve with age. If there's a cork you have to turn the bottle every so often to keep the cork moist.

A common misconception is that a normal screw top on wine means it's a cheap bottle. Used to be. Not anymore. Cork is expensive and believe it or not, they're beginning to discover that the safest way to store wine, in other words keep oxygen away from the wine, is with a screw top.

Box wines aren't what they used to be. Try one of the better brands and you may be pleasantly surprised. The box wines don't let oxygen at the wine, so an open box can last much longer than an open bottle.

Some other stuff I've learned through the years.

Sauternes, the sweet desert wines, are made from moldy grapes. They call it the "noble rot." One of the most famous Sauternes is called Chateau d'Yquem and is, of course, made in the Sauterne region of France. My father-in-law used to say it should only be drunk on bended knee. He also used to say in a self-deprecating way that the only difference between a wino and a wine connoisseur was about $10 a bottle.

White wines generally have a higher alcohol content than reds.

If you don't like the first taste of the red wine you ordered, let it sit a few minutes. Oxygen interacts with the wine and may help to smooth out the flavor.

Pinot Noir grapes do better in colder climates, so chances are that a Pinot from Oregon or Washington will taste better than one from California.

When they say one glass of wine a day is good for your heart, they mean red--white doesn't work the same way--and only 6 ounces. I know. Dang.

Do you like wine? Was this this useful info? Should I do a second installment of Wine 101? What's the most interesting thing you've ever learned about wine?

Helen