Our Life in Wine

This month, let's hit on a common wine dilemma: how do I pick a wine to bring to a friend's dinner, or worse, dinner at the boss's?

Whether you want to make a positive impression with your wine knowledge or just don't want to feel embarrassed in front of your friends, having the right direction can reduce the overwhelming feeling of staring at the shelves of the wine aisle.

And let's be clear: if you have no time or means to go anywhere else, it's totally acceptable to pick up a bottle at the grocery store!  Most states that allow wine sales in supermarkets have a decent selection for when you're in a pinch. A visit to a beverage-focused store like Total Wine or BevMo of course can give you more options, although sometimes more options are even more overwhelming.  And sometimes you just don’t have the time to drive the extra distance.

For this grocery-store scenario, we have two go-to's that you can usually find, have a higher probability of being tasty, AND that provide a lot of value for the money:  1. Champagne  2. California Merlot 

Option 1: Champagne  

In almost every case, Champagne is a good choice.  It's timeless.   Large, more famous Champagne producers are widely available, and are considered steadfast quality even by the pickiest wine snobs.  You can even get those big brands at the grocery store.  When you know the host is into wine, and most likely will already have picked out a red wine to accompany the meal, they will usually appreciate the opportunity to serve all their guests a glass of bubbly before dinner.  If you're not sure which bottle to buy, remember one thing: make sure it says "Champagne" on the label - not "sparkling wine." Champagne can only be called Champagne if it is made in the Champagne region of France with certain methods.  Having this guide post will ensure that you are getting a wine made in a style and using certain production techniques that usually ensure quality.  It is worth noting that there are some GREAT sparkling wines being produced in other areas as well - France, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Oregon, California, etc.  But for the sure shot, no thinking involved, need to grab a bottle and not be embarrassed situation – just look for “Champagne” on the label, pick one up on the higher shelf in the grocery store (wine works the same as liquor–-top shelf usually = higher quality).  Another tip: if the label says "Brut," the wine does not taste sweet. Some of the major producers that are widely available, and totally respectable  are Veuve Cliquot, Bollinger, Moet & Chandon, Mumm and Luis Roederer (of Cristal fame).  

Option 2: is Merlot (if you feel you must pick a red wine).  Although note, this option is not as much of a bullseye as Champagne, in terms of quality.  But we do recommend it as your likelihood of hitting is greater than with other wines.  

Yes, Merlot—specifically from California. If you’re looking for a good-quality red wine at a reasonable price, and have to go to a store without a lot of options, California Merlot is often a good bet. Why? Well, while French Merlot is delicious, it doesn’t always state the grape variety on the bottle, so you may not know what you’re getting. (Wine from the Bordeaux region in France often contains Merlot grapes, but the quality can vary greatly—from super high-end and high-quality to very low-end and low-quality. This wine is best selected with some more direction or guidance from a friendly wine shop employee.) We noted California Merlot because of the movie Sideways, released in 2004. In the film (if you haven’t seen it), the main character derides Merlot, saying, “If anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I’m not drinking f*%$#@! Merlot!” This had an unfortunate ripple effect throughout the wine industry. Merlot sales tanked, and grape growers couldn’t command the price per ton for their fruit that they used to. Instead, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon became the cash crops, so many growers ripped out their Merlot vines and started planting the other grapes. The result of this, however, is that where Merlot vines remain in California, they are likely to be the sites that produce the best Merlot grapes. Only the best survived. Even so, Merlot remains relatively cheap, considering it has only recently begun to regain its popularity nearly 20 years later. Hence, a very good California Merlot wine can be purchased for the same price as a mediocre California Cabernet. Therefore, if you find a Cali Merlot on the top shelf of the grocery store, you'll usually have something respectable to bring to that dinner party. 

Last but not least, we always recommend going to a local wine shop and asking a sales associate for a recommendation if you have more time and have the means to choose something more unique. It is not only their job, but also their passion to help customers find the right wine.  So it is always okay to go into the wine shop and tell them how you feel, who will be there, what your price range is, and that you want something impressive, but don't know how to get started.  

Please feel free to reach out whenever you need a more specific suggestion from us!  We too are always happy to help.  Until next time.

Cheers!

-Sarah & Skye