Choosing a wine should be fun!

I am supposed to bring a bottle of wine and I don’t know what to do?

 Have you ever been asked to bring a bottle of wine to a celebration or dinner? Has this resulted in you scratching your head while standing confused in front of the wine section at your local wine shop or grocery store? Well I have suggestions to make this experience less stressful and more enjoyable.

 Wine is supposed to be enjoyable, not stressful. As winemakers we often forget that not everyone thinks about or is as comfortable as we are with decisions about wine purchases.  Certainly, the more knowledge you have, the easier it is. But what we as producers need to do is be better communicators. I have seen wine labels and wine lists that are too intimidating due to the multitude of terms from appellations to varietals to classifications that the average person has no idea what they mean. You most likely have no idea what that wine is going to taste like or if it’s worth the price. That might be the reason that only 15% of the population are regular wine drinkers. I am here to change that!

 Until we as an industry get better at communicating what is in the bottle, here are five tips to help you out.

 Tip 1: If you are new to wine, start with a white or rose because most people need time to gradually get used to the tannins, acidity, and dryness (lack of residual sugar) in red wines.

 Tip 2: A good question to ask yourself is do you prefer apple juice or grapefruit juice? If you prefer apple juice you will probably enjoy a sweeter white like Frozen Tundra White or Ice Wine or if you prefer grapefruit juice you will probably love a drier rose like our Washington Island Rose.

 Tip 3: When it comes to red wines, ask yourself if you like your Starbucks fix to be a smooth latte or an intense double espresso.  If you choose latte, then you will enjoy the Frozen Tundra Red or Nouveau Rouge.  If you chose the espresso you will probably be a fan of the Petite Pearl or Vintner’s Reserve.

 Tip 4: If you are trying to pair the wine with a meal, the best rule of thumb is to pick white wines for lighter dishes like chicken, fish, or salads and for heavier dishes with richer sauces or beef choose the red wine.

 Tip 5: Be a crowd pleaser and bring a bottle of white and a bottle of red. Hey, that worked for Billy Joel!

 Until next time, let me know what you think and Cheers!

 Steve