Wine, Vino, Vini

Yes, you read the title right! This week, I’m talking all things wine. Lord knows we could all use a glass or two am I right?! I’m so excited to talk about wine I can’t even stand it. I geek out when talking about this. If you know, you know. Soon I will have an entire page dedicated to my favorite wines and new finds. I’m all about sharing so I will be working on that diligently in case you have absolutely no idea what you’re drinking or if you want to experience wine in all of its glory. Let me start by saying I am not a wine snob…my journey with wine really started when I began my career in the restaurant industry….

I was 22 when I graduated college and was offered a part time hosting job at the restaurant I now manage full time. After my first week, I was hooked! I loved how the entire restaurant functioned and how each person played a significant role. I loved the fast paced environment. I loved the smells coming from the open kitchen. It was within that first week, I started asking my boss question after question. When I wasn’t intimidated by the chef, I would ask him question after question. When servers would walk by my host desk, I would stop, and yep…ask more questions. I was so curious about food and wine and the Italian culture in general. I studied Spanish and Mexican culture in college and knew I would be just as in love with Italian culture.

I started seeing servers present bottles of wine to their tables. This entire presentation was so intriguing to me! I would study the bottle and then look at the menu. I was FLOORED when I saw how much guests were paying for a single bottle. I wanted to know why in the world would someone spend that much on a bottle of wine they’re going to drink in one setting. I was baffled and remember going home and telling my parents that there were crazy people spending ridiculous amounts of money on wine and I was going to find out why.

My background with wine was pretty much non existent. In college, I would open a bottle and leave it for a couple days (a huge no no!! This is why your wine tastes like vinegar. It’s good for maybe 3 days MAX). I had no idea what I was drinking or why I was drinking it. It was cheap and I was on a budget. I knew I liked wine but I had no idea there was an entire experience I was missing out on. So, when my boss asked me if I was interested in taking a wine class I said yes without hesitation. That was the start of my true love for wine. Now, I’m the girl who does splurge on a great bottle every now and then. I do still believe however, there is no wrong choice and there are great wines under $15! I firmly believe you just have to know what you’re looking for.

Let’s get down to the basics. Below I have listed some wine 101 info. Remember, there are no rules when it comes to wine. There is no right or wrong wine. It’s all about what you like! I will say, once you understand what you’re drinking, why you’re drinking it …going to the liquor store or even ordering a bottle at a restaurant will be much easier for you! There can be so many to choose from how do you even know where to start? By the end of this, you will know how to pick a wine for every occasion while staying on a budget. After all, it’s all about the experience! Now, grab a glass, your favorite wine and read along!

The Basics:

Body & Grapes

Red Wine, White Wine

Red Wine Domestic (made in the USA) Examples: Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Blends

White Wine Domestic (made in the USA) Examples: Pinto Grigio, Chardonnay, Riesling, Blends

When drinking wine, think of it like drinking a glass of milk (gross I know) but you have your big body or fuller body wine (whole milk), medium body wine (2%), and light bodied wine (reduced fat). I promise I will think of another analogy but for now just go with it. I personally like medium to fuller body wines. Both red and white wines can range from light to full bodied.

Example: Chardonnay (white) and Cabernet (red) tend to be bigger bodied wines. Pinot noir (red) and Pinot Grigio (white) tend to be light to medium body. Each blend is different which is why it’s called a blend. These range from light to big bodied.

Structure

What you need to know about structure is that great wines have great structure. How do you know? If you take a sip of wine and immediately everything taste like water, you have poor structure. On the other hand, if you drink wine and the flavors and textures last in your mouth for a long time, the wine has great structure. You don’t want to drink water…therefore you need structure.

Tannins/Acid

You’ll know a wine has “big” tannins if your tongue feels fuzzy after taking a sip. It’s as if all the moisture has left your mouth in one single sip of wine. That sensation is brought on by tannins. These wines can be really great however when you’re pairing them specifically with rich foods. The richer the food, the more tannic the wine should be to cut through the fat. Acid, is the same thing except when you drink white wine. Tannins can be described as soft, medium or big. What to remember: If a wine has really big tannins, its not a glass you just pour up and sip on the couch. It needs to be paired with food.

Vintage or Year

Unless you’re a super wine snob, then this shouldn’t really matter to you. The reason this is so huge for avid wine drinkers is because each year the grapes will taste different even if the wine is the same. Meaning grapes can be sweeter or more dry compared to previous years due to the climate that year. You may drink a 2014 chardonnay and LOVE it and then today go pick it up and it’s a 2017 and it tastes totally different but it’s the same bottle….thats where the year and vintage comes into play. If you find a year or vintage you really love, then remember it!

Descriptors- What do all of those words mean?

Complex: exactly what it sounds like. I love complex wines!! There’s so much going on!

Jammy: like a spoonful of jam. Wines that are jammy, aren’t necessarily fruity but they generally have fuller body. Jammy wines are my jam!

Oaky: tastes like oak barrels. This happens because the wine has been aging inside of oak barrels.

Buttery: like butter. Buttery wines coat your mouth with an oily sensation. Generally the wine is a bit savory when it’s buttery.

Earthy: metallic, dirt, tobacco, grassy. Any time you see these words, you’re dealing with a wine that has earthy characteristics. These are rarely ‘sweet’ wines.

“On the nose” : a fancy way of saying “it smells like”

Patio pounder: easy to drink, don’t really need food, could sip it all day with your friends either in the winter by the fireplace or in the summer, on the patio.

The right wine for the right occasion? If there is such a thing, here are the guidelines I would follow.

If you’re going to a dinner party, or if you’re hosting a dinner party, provide wine that pairs well with food. You don’t really need anything super complex. You don’t need anything that has big body. You need a nice red and white wine that will pair with the food and that’s easy to drink. If it’s summer time, lighter bodied wines would be my go-to.

If you’re at a restaurant and you don’t know what to order, first think about what you’re going to eat. The richer the food, the richer the wine. If you just want something nice that will go along with any meal, you can never go wrong with a Pinot Noir or even Pinot Grigio. These are subtle enough they won't overpower the food, but you’ll still be able to enjoy the flavor profile.

I don’t know who needs to hear this but stop ordering moscato!!

Moscato is a dessert wine. It’s like liquid syrup. That’s why people use it to make punch. If you’re going to drink moscato at a restaurant, order it towards the end of your dinner. As for drinking it at home….I don't know why you would but if you MUST consider trying a riesling. Rieslings are very low-key. Some can be on the sweeter side, some super dry. But they’re easy to drink and tend to be crowd pleasers. I’ve never met a riesling I didn’t like.

What to do in the liquor store

Until you become more familiar with buying wine, use these simple tips to help navigate your way through the liquor store. Typically, the aisles will be divided up by the grape (chardonnay, cabernet etc). If you’re looking for a riesling, you can also look in the Germany aisle if they don’t have an aisle specifically for rieslings. There will be a section for every country as well. Stick to the domestic aisles for now. We’ll get into Italian and Spanish wines later.

Another easy tip is to look for the “under $20” section. Almost every liquor store has one and you really can’t go wrong. Don’t be afraid to tell the staff what you’re looking for. Knowing the descriptor words will help!

Another pro tip: find the staff favorites section. Usually right next to the “under $20” section.

Do the award winning wines really mean anything? Award winning wines can be great, but don’t be afraid to stray away from those. Some of my favorites are not award winning. Once you know what you love, reading the description will help you decide if it’s worth it or not. When you figure out what you like in wine, reading the description will make the buying process fast and efficient. Typically, the most popular wines will have longer descriptions right below the shelf. This will speed up the shopping process if you just look for those descriptions!

Finally, go try something new! Share some new wine with me ( I love trying new things), and take a pic with your favorite bottle and tag me on social media!

Cheers!! xoxo

Fredericksburg, TX- a hidden gem full of wineries, beautiful scenery and great wine!