A bit of a note on the format, first, there will be a couple of pictures of Graffiti, followed by the column on wine, and then I will add a wine or two that I would recommend. Now that that is taken care of... Art!
Wine, It's Appeal, and How to Introduce It
If you ask somebody about why they like wine, you will get somewhere near 3 billion different answers that will all, at the absolute root, boil down to a.) It tastes good and/or it is easier to drink than beer/spirits b.) It’s fun and fascinating and the more elusive c.) Because it’s wine. But for everybody that likes wine there are those that don’t mostly because they don’t enjoy the flavor. They tend to normally stray towards sweeter wines, and the cheaper “2 Dollar” varieties to have just in case company comes over, or if you just want to have wine here and there. But, before we dive into the psychological reasoning as to why these people are the way they are (and no, they are not genetically inferior in any way shape or form), let’s start at the root of it, the introduction to wine.
Barring the majority of the United States, wine is pretty much a cultural standard and introduced at an early age. Because of that, children that are introduced to that mysteriously fuzzy feeling juice that may or may not have gone bad but the adults seem to love it so therefore I in turn must love it as they get to stay up longer than I do and in general do what they want including all those annoying things that I would NEVER do to children once I get to their age, and grow a taste for it. (Ahh, the innocence of youth) For those of us that were not introduced at a young age, it can be be a bit more difficult to develop that taste for wine, but as with all things, it depends on the person and their INDIVIDUAL palate. That being said, if you want somebody to start down that path of Wine Enjoyment, there are some steps and methods you might want to consider.
** Please understand that although these methods do work, it is not guaranteed, like making sourdough bread **
First off, there are wines that you should avoid introducing to those not acclimated to the taste of wine. Zinfandel (NOT white zinfandel), Syrah/Shiraz, certain Cabernet’s, certain merlot’s (Don't even get me started on a certain movie that pertains to geometrical positioning), selective old world wines, Barolo, ports, sherrys, grenache, pinot grigio, etc. Keeping in mind that wine was originally made to drink with meals, the majority of old world wines were designed to drink with food, so they are not necessarily that “easy” to drink on their own. The safest bet will be to stick to new world wines, Pinot Noir, lighter/riper/fruitier Chardonnay, some Riesling, Sauvignion Blanc, certain sweeter sparkling wines (Moscato d'Asti, Sparkling Shiraz, etc). Pinot’s tend to be fruity and smooth especially if you stick to select regions in the Pacific North West of the United States (California, Washington, and Oregon). There are exceptions to every rule, but from my experience this has been the safest bet. Napa has long been synonymous with high quality wines, and for good reason, and some of the most drinkable and enjoyable wines I have been able to enjoy have been in the Sonoma/Russian River valley. The climate in this area and the magic in the soil just lends itself to really good wine that is easy to drink and wonderful for new comers. Washington and Oregon also have some incredible wines, as well as Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley. Yes, we can dive into wines all over the world and how good they are, but let's keep this relatively simple. Besides, most newcomers to wine in California are really only familiar with California wines.
Besides selecting the proper vineyard, vintage, and grape varietal, one of the most important things to remember is presentation. If you introduce a wine to somebody that you love and are excited about sharing with them, it will get them more excited and the chance that they will enjoy the wine is that much greater. Have a story about it, know a bit about the vineyard and the wine if possible, have a good toast, make an elaborate showing of smelling, swirling, and tasting the wine, asking their opinions only to say “This tastes... oakey” or “It’s like being slapped across the face with the herring of happiness.” On that chance that they don’t like it, don’t try another wine of the same varietal/color. Giving somebody a red wine that they don’t like probably means that they will have a bit more of a aversion to drinking any more of that color. If after that a white doesn’t work, well... Tell them you have vodka.
Key notes:
1.) Use lighter/fruitier wines that are smooth and easy to drink.
2.) Make the presentation as comfortable, fun, and memorable as possible.
3.) If they don't like wine, look on the bright side of things, more for you and those that do like it.
Wine Recommendation:
Byron 2008 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley $19.99
Winemaker Notes: Our 2008 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir displays aromas of dark cherry and plum, accented by hints of rose petals, brown spice and smoke. The flavor profile has a core of black cherry and dark plum with hints of earth and cardamom backed by a smooth, silky and toasted finish.
Wine-Fitti Opinion: This wine was recommended to me online where it was given a high rating. I had it with a vegan kale/black bean enchilada, and I found it delicious before/after/during the meal. I will definitely buy this again, especially for the price. If you are looking for a mid-priced Pinot Noir, this is a great wine to get with or without food.
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