Comments on: How to Enjoy Wine: My Advice to a Friend

By: Bookmarks about SIP

Bookmarks about SIP — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:15:45 +0000

[...] – bookmarked by 4 members originally found by BlueCockatoo on July 17, 2008 How to Enjoy Wine: My Advice to a Friend http://amyrootvik.com/2008/07/06/how-to-enjoy-wine/ – bookmarked by 1 members originally found by [...]

By: Trey Busch

Trey Busch — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:12:28 +0000

Amy, they should start with an off dry white like riesling or gewurtz.the sweetness balances the heat and they go with a lot of foods! Trey

By: amy

amy — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:40:05 +0000

Catie,
Thank you for your pointers. A great strategy for beginners. Since this is a letter to a friend, some things went unsaid. And I will try to remember in the future that blog readers don’t know the inside story unless I tell them. Like her wine touring in South America and the tasting experience she already does have.

But the lather bit seriously sounds like a problem. Not sure I want to lather. I haven’t said a bad word, have I? And I hope I’m not rabid. On second thought, if it’s Aveda shampoo we’re talking about, sometimes I do want to taste that stuff. Yuummmy!

That said, I agree about people overwhelming their senses sometimes. Maybe it’s helpful to think of Chemistry Lab and how you could get in trouble for huffing. Think also of “What About Bob?” and all those “baby steps.” I like to approach a wine bit by bit, slowly, to savor.

By: Catie

Catie — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:04:42 +0000

Usually I don’t start people drinking wine by itself, but strictly with food – a bite of food and a sip of wine, a bite of food and a sip of wine, then rinse, lather, rinse, repeat… Especially those who are white wine drinkers, but want to learn how to drink the reds – - food pairing is the trick. By pairing the food and wines together, it is more about how they compliment each other and less on the alcohol.

Also, when smelling the aromas: start smelling the glass of wine a few inches above the rim of the glass. Often people miss aromas by plunging their nose straight into the glass. Plunge your nose into the glass during your “second” smell. Anymore than 2-3 “smells” can confuse and cloud up your nostrils that you don’t have a clue what you are smelling other than alcohol. When that happens, make the next thing you smell is a glass of water. Smell the water the same as if you are smelling a glass of wine for the first time. Like water does for our palate, water can refresh the nostrils – - seriously.

By: amy

amy — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:43:24 +0000

Bradley,
Thanks for the feedback. And I love a good Kir Royale. Fantastic suggestion!

By: Bradley

Bradley — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:39:53 +0000

Great letter. I think your balanced approach was the right way to go. Rather insisting on wine be appreciated one way, you left the door open for exploration. Wine drinkers who find their own way ultimately enjoy it more than those who had to follow someone else’s strict likes and dislikes.

Another for summer: Kir or Kir Royale.