Liquid Red

You could say that I am into wine. I receive great pleasure from pairing a delicious wine with a great meal. I love the whole culture of wine: the scientific knowledge of soil, geography, horticulture to the bottling and aging process. Before I could legally drink wine, I studied about the ancient civilizations who transported wine (among other things) throughout the Mediterranean. My own trip to the Near East was where I had my first wine tasting.

Once I turned 21, I started to buy a few bottles here and there to develop a taste. I read some articles and books on the process of wine making, the comparisons, the rating system, and the foods to pair them with. Kris and I also started attending local wine festivals and visiting some specialty wine shops. Then, we started to plan travel that involved wine… I learned so much about wine during my trip to Napa Valley last fall. So many of the vintners and sommeliers were willing to share information and tips – not the snobby, pretentious attitude that one might expect. I have learned that the key to wine tasting is simply finding what you like; despite the reviews, the price tag, and the ratings.

Most of my favorite wines are reds: I got on a Pinot Noir “kick” last year and tried a number of good ones. Since my trip to Napa, I have become quite enamored with full-bodied reds, like Cabernet Sauvignon. Argentinian Malbecs and Australian Shirazes also top the list. Most of the wines are named after the specific variety of grape that they come from, as is the case with all of the wines mentioned. The real taste of the wine comes out with food, and since I am a vegetarian, and most wines are traditionally paired with meat dishes, finding the perfect wine for a meal involves a little trial and error.

I make a few white wine exceptions, I must say. While Chardonnays don’t usually excite me, there are some great Pinot Gris, and some deliciously fruity Riesling wines. My ultimate favorite white is Alsatian or German  Gewürztraminer.

Perhaps I like “Gewürtz” the most because it pairs so nicely with my favorite foods: spicy Indian dishes, Thai noodles, and Chinese stir-fries. I also like it on its own.

Wine can be an expensive hobby, but there are some great budget-minded print and online publications for people interested in wine. I recently subscribed to Food & Wine magazine and have appreciated the tips, the little buying guides, and specifically the recipes with wine recommendations. The magazine also uses many seasonal ingredients in their recipes, which can be found through many farmer’s markets. The foremost wine publication in the US is probably Wine Spectator magazine, which indeed, has some great tips, but their writing and tone can be a little … snooty. They are the magazine that rates all of the wines, and while the information may be helpful in some ways, how can you truly trust what another person is tasting? Taste it yourself and make your own rating

I recently checked out Great Wine Made Simple: Straight Talk from a Master Sommelier from the library and really enjoyed reading the text. I did not try some of the experiments that she talks about in the book, but the information she shares is invaluable. She makes wine knowledge so accessible. She even gives phonetic pronunciations after many of the French, Italian, and German words – what a plus! She discusses the new and upcoming wine regions, how to shop for wine, and how to order at a restaurant. It was a great book that I really could not stop reading!

I am already making plans for a trip to France next spring – and the great thing about it? I can get some fiber education as well as some wine tasting…

**Do you have a favorite wine?