Wine Wonderland: Breaking Down the Intimidation Barrier
The Evolution of Wine Tastes
One of my goals in the wine realm is to make wine less intimidating. After all, wine is just a beverage (albeit sometimes an elaborate one!) that should NOT be treated with pretension. Does it merit appreciation if you are a fan? Sure! But most importantly, the wines you drink should be the ones you enjoy, not what someone else tells you to like. Your preferences will evolve over time; as we change and have new life experiences, so does our taste in wine.
Let me share some defining moments throughout what I call my wine journey to explain. During my first year of university, my friends and I would regularly have dinners where we each brought a bottle of wine to share. By the end of the academic year, I had an aha moment. I got a glimpse of the different nuances of flavors in different wines. It was a revelation for me – I simply never noticed before.
I often say, being the person I am now, I would love to go back to the late 2000s to see what I would think of the Okanagan Valley Mt Boucherie Pinot Noir 2004 and the Little Straw Sauvignon Blanc 2006. Those wines taught me how these grapes have a specific character that is consistent in quality wine; red fruit, and earthy notes for Pinot noir and grassiness/herbal flavors in Sauvignon Blanc. I did return to Little Straw winery the following year, except they were sold out. While pouring my tasting, they warned me that the 2007 wine would be different due to different growing conditions compared to 2006. Aha! Vintage matters! Sure enough, the flavors were not as balanced and precise. For more on vintage:
Jumping ahead a decade, having dinner with friends a guest enthusiastically said, “Now take a piece of this cheese; then take a sip of wine.” He confidently waited with anticipation, staring at me! The combination was exquisite, with deep flavors of dark fruit and forest floor, unlike any Châteauneuf-du-Pape I had ever tasted before. I was fantasizing about it days later then found out that bottle of wine was $80, my first premium wine. I learned to appreciate variations in quality – a game changer (an expensive one, unfortunately!)
But let's get back to you! If you enjoy Prosecco because of its coarser bubbles, that's awesome! Who cares what I said in the Trentodoc post!
Your preferences are what matter. If you like wines with a little sweetness, embrace it and know how to ask for it. Use terms like "off-dry" for only a perception of sweetness or "medium dry" for noticeable sweetness but not something that you would want to pair with dessert. (If you ask for a sweet wine, you are asking for dessert wines, like ice wine or port.)
Most importantly, wine does not have to be intimidating. Wine exploration should be fun! Your preferences will change over time, and there are always new experiences to be had with wine. So, go ahead and explore, try different wines, and find what you truly enjoy. Cheers!
A reader has made the wonderful suggestion of compiling my recommendations in one place. I have started gathering - you can view here.
Bel Colle Langhe Nebbiolo 2020* from Piemonte, Italy
Style: Full Body Red
This intense yet delicate wine has rose petal notes on the nose and red cherry, cranberry, anise, cinnamon, caramel, and earthy flavors on the palate.
Note: Although right after pouring the high level of tannins may seem intense, they soften quickly, therefore no need to decant.
Pairing: italian tomato based dishes such as parmigiana (veal, chicken, or eggplant), gnocchi, as well as Italian or Spanish cheeses.
Price: ~$27
*click link for stores where wine is available in Alberta, Canada while quantities last.
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When you live in Kelowna, where grocery stores can only display BC or Okanagan wines, you tend to get in a rut and limit your perspective. When we moved to the Okanagan we joined a wine club to discover OK wines. Limiting oneself to local wines doesn't guarantee good wines, nor value for money. Restaurant outings sometimes offer an opportunity to try something different, but that is very limited (and expensive). Your articles and insights promise to help us navigate the wine world.
Well, a fitting topic for today given its Wine shopping day. Love the read, especially since you're the only person I know who can rival the wife's expertise! Though, I remain both ignorant AND intimidated by the infamous wine isles!