After one too many plastic cups of Pabst Blue Ribbon, I’ve moved on to wine as my new drink of choice. But, like beer, there are many kinds of bad wine that are too easy to accidentally drink. So what makes a good wine? And what’s the difference between a chardonnay and a Cabernet?

Here’s the rundown on the mot popular kinds of wine and what to drink them with.

Reds

Cabernet Sauvignon is produced mainly in France and California. This red is what’s called “full bodied,” meaning it’s got a rich, strong flavor of dark fruits like black current. The best Cabernets taste a bit earthy and dry and they tend to get better with age, so pick-up a bottle with the earliest date (as in, 2003 rather than 2008).
Pair with red meat, grilled vegetables, or pasta with red sauce.

Merlot is arguably the most popular red wine. Merlot can range from medium to full-bodied and is high in alcohol and low in acidity. Flavors include plum and chocolate (yum!). Grown all over the world, this wine is easy to enjoy.
Pair with pasta with red sauce, beef, or grilled or smoky meats.

Pinot Noir is made from a velvety grape that is one of the hardest to grow, which makes a good pinot great and a bad pinot terrible. A good pinot will be complex, with flavors ranging from black cherries to earthy spices. Pinot Noir grapes traditionally come from Burgundy, France, but are now being perfected in Oregon and California.
Pair with salmon, pasta, or pork. Read More »

Wine can be intimidating. No doubt. With fancy names that are hard to pronounce, you’re often left to order the “house” wine out of fear of butchering some French name and sounding like a total beginner. Asking the waitress/waiter what their recommendation is will certainly give you a larger bill than expected, and the wine won’t taste like a glass of perfection but instead a glass of regret.

The key is learning how to figure out what you like on your own, knowing you prefer Sauvignon Blanc over Pinot Grigio, White over Red, “full-bodied” or “Crisp”….the list goes on an on, so if you can narrow it down to a few basic preferences, the next time you’re out ordering wine it’ll be a breeze rather than brain surgery.

Basic Whites:

Pinot Grigio: Typically more of a dry wine with medium body, not as sweet and lighter in color. Pairs well with lighter dishes i.e. Chicken, Rice, Salmon, etc. Aromas tend to be more flowery, citrus and light spice.

FACT: These aromas and flavors can often be smelled rather than tasted. That’s why so many fancy wine drinkers stick their face into their glass before taking a sip! Read More »