by Etty Lewensztain, Wine Expert for the Menuism Wine Blog
Say you're a novice wine drinker. You enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner on the weekends, or a glass of chilled rosé when you're spending time on the patio with friends. You love the idea of being adventurous and ordering exotic wines when dining out at your favorite restaurant, but you lack the wine geek know-how to recognize any particular wine brand when you're perusing a wine list, and find the whole process a bit perplexing. In terms of enthusiasm, you are good to go, but when it comes to actual knowledge and skills, you're a bit rocky, and that's an understatement.
Well this, my friend, is a post dedicated entirely to you. I've put together a wine region cheat sheet that will help you navigate a wine list by region alone, while having little knowledge about the actual wines represented on the menu. Following are several of the world's most commonly known wine producing regions. Each region produces a vast array of wines in drastically varying styles from modern to traditional, sweet to dry, still to sparkling and so forth, so generalizing what a typical Spanish wine might taste like, for instance, is a very tall and perhaps impossible order.
Nevertheless, each of these regions is known for having success with particular grape varieties or particular styles of wine, and these tidbits can act as general guidelines when you're attempting to narrow down your choices at a restaurant and land on a wine that you will enjoy.
For the most reliable results when making your wine selections, choose a wine made from a grape variety that the region is best known for. For example, if you're looking for a California red, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel are all safe bets. If you're looking for a Chilean or a New Zealand white, stick with Sauvignon Blanc.
Italy and France are two of Europe's most historic wine regions and the wines made in these countries are classified as Old World. Wines made in Italy and France will typically show lower alcohol, less use of new oak (if any oak is used at all), and higher acidity (the element in wine that causes it to taste tart) than New World wines. Generally speaking, French and Italian wines are less ripe (AKA sweet) than their New World counterparts and are more earthy or savory in style. Given the endless number of producers, appellations, and grape varieties encompassed by these two countries, there are definitely exceptions to these rules. There is a substantial number of modern producers in each of these countries that have moved away from traditional winemaking methods in favor of something more akin to the viticultural practices of the New World. Nevertheless, these guidelines will definitely help you filter through a long wine list to find the right category of wine for you.
Since Italy and France are home to a seemingly limitless number of indigenous grapes, ordering by grape variety alone, the way you would with New World wines, might be challenging. Once you've narrowed down to a few appealing options, make sure to ask your server or the sommelier for some further details on the wines.
Like Italy and France, Spain is home to a vast array of lesser-known native grapes, so when choosing a Spanish wine, instead of relying on the grape variety, ask your server or the sommelier for guidance.
Related Links from Menuism Wine Guides:
• Decoding the World's Most Expensive Wines
• A Guide to Opened Wine
• Considering the Screw Cap
A Dummy's Guide to Wine Regions originally published on the Menuism Wine Blog.
Etty Lewensztain is the owner of Plonk Wine Merchants, an online shop focused on small-production, artisanal and altogether great cheap wine. The food- and wine-obsessed Los Angeles native cut her teeth in the wine biz running a marketing campaign to promote Chilean wine in the U.S., and is certified by the esteemed Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and the American Sommelier Association. Plonk Wine Merchants specializes in hidden gems from around the globe and every bottle in the store is priced below $30. Follow Plonk Wine Merchants on Twitter @PlonkOnline.
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'New World' includes a lot more US regions than just California.
Novice wine drinkers are unlikely to know what's meant by things like "ripe, opulent, and fairly forward or polished style", "moderate to high alcohol levels", or "laser beam acidity." They don't know what grape a region is best known for.
There's no mention of the fact that labeling varies widely by region, so not only is ordering by varietal difficult with many Old World wines, it's next to impossible unless you're more than a novice.
For a novice, stick with the advice in the comments. Match the wine region to the kind of food you're eating. If you're unsure of what to order or what will pair well, ASK.
I am very disappointed that I see Burgundies with "Pinot noir' on the labels, to me that cheapens the brand and makes them look too much like American plonk.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/apr/14/champagne-england-sparkling-wines-praise
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1246769/Sparkling-performance-British-fizzy-wine-beats-worlds-champagne-makers-named-best-bubbly-planet.html
More wine please. Any bottle will do.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/dining/reviews/wines-of-the-canary-islands-review.html
4) Served Red wine at 60 to 65 degrees. Room temp is too warm. Put it in the frige for 20 minutes if it is above 65 degrees. The less you spend, the cooler it should be.
5) German Riesling - Ask any certified Sommelier what their favorite wine is and they will tell you "The one that's in my glass!" But actually, professional wine people, (esp. us cork dorks) will tell you that high on the list are German Rieslings. Low in alcohol 8 - 9 %, they are fantastic with food and very refreshing!
6) The most important component to ongoing wine enjoyment/appreciation is having a good memory.
These days, that camera on your phone is a useful tool - when you taste a wine you really like, snap a pic of the lable, so that you can refer back to it. When it comes to imported wines, it is always a good idea to note the importer, because that will help your retailer find the wine.
And, remember, the Fun lies in the Journey!
If you like wine but have a life, there are only a few things you need to know.
1) Make friends with a local retailer. If you shop at the grocery store, stop by on Monday morning, the Monday after a holiday is esp. good. That's when the buyer will be ordering and can help you.
Tell them what you like or are looking for - Gentle/Hearty/Fruity/Lite/Crisp/Smooth/ - and how much you want to spend.
2) Wines fom France, are named after regions, not grape variety.
Burgundy - Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Beaujolais - Gamay - Fruity reds - good cool on a hot day!
Bordeaux - Cab and Cab blends
Rhone - Syrah in the North &, in the South, Syrah blended with other red varieties
Alsace - Riesling/Pinot Gris/Gewurstraminer/Pinot Blanc - Rich wines that go great with food!
Cont.