Wine for Your Event
We did not intend for our book to be a wine primer, as there are many excellent books for that, but we believe that a contemporary book about entertaining needs some information on the subject. Wine is a necessity at most events, and it seems to be the socializing beverage of choice for many. You should plan on purchasing at least one type of red wine and one type of white wine for most of your events, so it’s a good subject to have at least cursory knowledge.
There is a lot to learn about wine, and it’s a subject that some find intimidating. The wine world continues to evolve and expand, as has the amount to possibly understand. Winemaking technology and expertise has improved greatly since the 1970s. Wine guru Robert Parker stated that the quality and diversity of wines has grown at least ten-fold in the twenty-five years since 1980. There are many more wines, brands and wine regions that are worthy of exploration. Not just in the famous regions of France, Italy, Germany and California, but there are now excellent wines made in Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Austria, Washington, Oregon, plus other areas of California.
The wine marketplace is always changing. For example, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, white wines generally outsold red wines two-to-one. Since the 60 Minutes broadcast of the “French Paradox” in the early 1990s, which touted the health benefits of red wine, the market changed rapidly, and red wines began to regain popularity vis-à-vis white wines, so that the proportion of sales eventually reversed. Different types of wines have come in and out of fashion as the consumer base in North America continues to expand and become more sophisticated.
To enjoy wine you certainly don’t need to understand it all. You don’t need to be able to be explain the nuances of the first growth Bordeaux in the great vintages of 1961, 1945, 2009, etc., nor be familiar with Chateau d’Yquem, the top Burgundies, top vintage champagne, and the cult Napa Cabernets in order to be able to enjoy and appreciate wines. In fact, it’s just a very small percentage of wine aficionados, usually just the most prominent folks in the wine trade and wine writers who can claim to be familiar with these types of wines. For the rest of us, we can still enjoy wine as much as anyone.
Basics about Varietals and Regions
Below is some very basic information concerning the most popular wine styles, regions, and varietals. As with any subject, it helps to have a certain vocabulary to be able to understand it. With wine, that vocabulary might be somewhat more important and lengthy, and at the same time seemingly more imposing for the beginner. This is due, in part, to the fact that many of the terms are in a foreign language, and peculiar to the wine industry.
“Varietals? I don’t believe in varietals….”
- a supposed wine lover
Varietal simply means a wine that is produced predominantly of one grape, usually at least 75% by law (in most American states), from which it takes its name. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc are some of the popular grapes among the many varietals. In the traditional wine-producing countries in Europe, the wines usually took their name from a place, either a village or a region, such as Bordeaux, Côte de Nuits, Pommard, Hermitage, Vouvray, Champagne, Barolo, Chianti, and Rioja. With no similar regional tradition, winemakers in California began to list the primary grape on the label.
Recommended for Entertaining – Basic Wines
For entertaining with wine, the easiest thing to do is to provide a single type of red and white – at least for a not-too-discerning crowd. Below are several varietals that we believe work best when entertaining, especially when a number of people and bottles are involved. Though varietals are a New World invention, many well-made European wines are also labeled as varietals, especially at the lower end of the price spectrum.
Red – These are the most popular or useful red varietals at events.
White – These are the most popular or user-friendly at parties.
NOTE – The vast majority of wines are meant to be drunk soon after bottling. Only a few are meant for aging. These are typically on the higher end of the price scale, are full-bodied and, generally, have an alcoholic content that is at least 13%. Alcohol acts as a preservative. So, be careful at the bargain bin at your wine store when you find a very cheap wine from a good winery that is four or five years old. It is our experience that inexpensive red wines under 13% alcohol are generally only reliably good about two-and-a-half years after the vintage date. White wines, even less so. There are exceptions, of course, especially with Old World wines. Check with your wine merchant. Wines from the Northern Hemisphere have a vintage date from late in the year when the grapes are harvested. Those from the Southern Hemisphere have a vintage date that corresponds to early in the year when the grapes are harvested there. So, an inexpensive red wine from Italy that is 12.5% alcohol with a 2005 vintage may be good through mid-2008. From Australia, a similar wine with a 2009 vintage might only be good until late 2012.
Some Good Things to Know About Wine – At the Store
Below are basic things that are good to know when looking for wines:
Some Good Things to Know About Wine – At Home
Below are basic things to know about storing, serving and consuming wine:
There is a lot to learn about wine, and it’s a subject that some find intimidating. The wine world continues to evolve and expand, as has the amount to possibly understand. Winemaking technology and expertise has improved greatly since the 1970s. Wine guru Robert Parker stated that the quality and diversity of wines has grown at least ten-fold in the twenty-five years since 1980. There are many more wines, brands and wine regions that are worthy of exploration. Not just in the famous regions of France, Italy, Germany and California, but there are now excellent wines made in Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Austria, Washington, Oregon, plus other areas of California.
The wine marketplace is always changing. For example, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, white wines generally outsold red wines two-to-one. Since the 60 Minutes broadcast of the “French Paradox” in the early 1990s, which touted the health benefits of red wine, the market changed rapidly, and red wines began to regain popularity vis-à-vis white wines, so that the proportion of sales eventually reversed. Different types of wines have come in and out of fashion as the consumer base in North America continues to expand and become more sophisticated.
To enjoy wine you certainly don’t need to understand it all. You don’t need to be able to be explain the nuances of the first growth Bordeaux in the great vintages of 1961, 1945, 2009, etc., nor be familiar with Chateau d’Yquem, the top Burgundies, top vintage champagne, and the cult Napa Cabernets in order to be able to enjoy and appreciate wines. In fact, it’s just a very small percentage of wine aficionados, usually just the most prominent folks in the wine trade and wine writers who can claim to be familiar with these types of wines. For the rest of us, we can still enjoy wine as much as anyone.
Basics about Varietals and Regions
Below is some very basic information concerning the most popular wine styles, regions, and varietals. As with any subject, it helps to have a certain vocabulary to be able to understand it. With wine, that vocabulary might be somewhat more important and lengthy, and at the same time seemingly more imposing for the beginner. This is due, in part, to the fact that many of the terms are in a foreign language, and peculiar to the wine industry.
“Varietals? I don’t believe in varietals….”
- a supposed wine lover
Varietal simply means a wine that is produced predominantly of one grape, usually at least 75% by law (in most American states), from which it takes its name. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc are some of the popular grapes among the many varietals. In the traditional wine-producing countries in Europe, the wines usually took their name from a place, either a village or a region, such as Bordeaux, Côte de Nuits, Pommard, Hermitage, Vouvray, Champagne, Barolo, Chianti, and Rioja. With no similar regional tradition, winemakers in California began to list the primary grape on the label.
Recommended for Entertaining – Basic Wines
For entertaining with wine, the easiest thing to do is to provide a single type of red and white – at least for a not-too-discerning crowd. Below are several varietals that we believe work best when entertaining, especially when a number of people and bottles are involved. Though varietals are a New World invention, many well-made European wines are also labeled as varietals, especially at the lower end of the price spectrum.
Red – These are the most popular or useful red varietals at events.
- Shiraz / Syrah – This fruity varietal is very easy to drink. Even better, there are many high quality and low price wines, mostly from Australia that are very easy to find. The wines labeled Shiraz are usually made in the style that is better suited to drinking alone, without food.
- Merlot – This varietal is very popular, and liked by most casual wine drinkers. Some self-styled wine snobs might not care for wines that feature this grape outside of Chateau Petrus, but it’s easy to find a well-made bottle that will satiate most red wine drinkers.
- Malbec – Fruit-driven, liked by most and readily affordable, these can be good choices for the event.
White – These are the most popular or user-friendly at parties.
- Sauvignon Blanc – This is often herbaceous and dry, but with enough fruit to be enjoyed without food. Also, there are many well-made versions that are value-priced.
- Chardonnay – This is most recognizable and most popular white wine grape. Even on the lower end of the price scale, which can be found everywhere, these wines are made in a fruity, slightly oaky style that are enjoyable to drink by itself, without a food accompaniment.
- Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris – This is a light-bodied, dry and mellow white wine that most white wine drinkers find palatable when drinking as an aperitif.
NOTE – The vast majority of wines are meant to be drunk soon after bottling. Only a few are meant for aging. These are typically on the higher end of the price scale, are full-bodied and, generally, have an alcoholic content that is at least 13%. Alcohol acts as a preservative. So, be careful at the bargain bin at your wine store when you find a very cheap wine from a good winery that is four or five years old. It is our experience that inexpensive red wines under 13% alcohol are generally only reliably good about two-and-a-half years after the vintage date. White wines, even less so. There are exceptions, of course, especially with Old World wines. Check with your wine merchant. Wines from the Northern Hemisphere have a vintage date from late in the year when the grapes are harvested. Those from the Southern Hemisphere have a vintage date that corresponds to early in the year when the grapes are harvested there. So, an inexpensive red wine from Italy that is 12.5% alcohol with a 2005 vintage may be good through mid-2008. From Australia, a similar wine with a 2009 vintage might only be good until late 2012.
Some Good Things to Know About Wine – At the Store
Below are basic things that are good to know when looking for wines:
- Generally, New World wines are better when drunk alone, without food, than the Old World wines. This is a great generalization, but we find that it’s true, especially at the lower price levels. Old World wines are made to be a part of the meal, and in the wine-producing countries of Italy and much of Spain and France, wine is primarily consumed with food. New World wines tend to have generally low acidity for many of the popularly priced wines, and exhibit a fruitiness that engenders drinking alone. For the similar prominent varietals, Old World wines have higher acidity, which calls for food.
- Nearly all white wines are meant to be drunk within a year to two from the vintage date. Almost all of the whites that do last for several years have been aged in oak prior to release. This is important to stress to those who don’t drink wine and plan to open a few gift bottles they received several years ago, and their guests find these wines well on the way to becoming vinegar.
- Screwtops are good for wine. More and more wines are being bottled with screwtops, which have proven to be more effective than the traditional corks in keeping wines. Though not perfect, screwtops will continue to become more common, as consumers get accustomed to these on quality wines.
- As a social beverage, instead of an accompaniment for a meal, red wines are generally consumed at a roughly two-to-one clip over white wines at social events in North America.
- Men and women have fairly similar wine consumption patterns, in terms of red versus whites, and types of varietals. Women might drink white wines at a greater pace when they don’t want the red wine to stain their teeth. Men typically don’t seem to regard this as a problem.
- Though white wines are drunk more frequently during warmer months and in warmer climates, this pattern is not pronounced. Based on our experience, this holds true in the often-hot Sun Belt. Nearly every venue where wine will be consumed is air conditioned, after all.
Some Good Things to Know About Wine – At Home
Below are basic things to know about storing, serving and consuming wine:
- When wines are very cold, the aromas and tastes are muted. When wines are served too warm, the alcohol, acidity, and with red wines, tannins all become more pronounced. So, the cheaper the white wine you are serving, the colder you want it before serving.
- Wines should be served at different temperatures depending on the style. Ideally. This is often very difficult to do at home, and especially when hosting a party. If you can do so, here are some guidelines: Big reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, red Bordeaux, Barolo, Barberesco, red Zinfandel, and red Rhône wines should be served at 64° to 68° F (18° to 20° C). Generally, medium-bodied reds such as Merlot, Pinot Noir should be served at 60° to 64° F (15.5° to 18° C). Light-bodied reds such as Beaujolais, Bardolino, and many Valpolicella should be served even colder at 55° to 60° F (13° to 15.5° C). Most all white wines including Chardonnay, Chablis and the other white burgundies, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, etc. should be served at 45° to 50° F (7° to 10° C). Sparkling wines and rosés should be served at 42° to 45° F (5.5° to 7° C). Lower quality, usually very cheap, white wines and sparkling wines taste better colder 40° to 42° F (4° to 5.5° C). This helps to make the off-tastes more palatable.
- Wine bottles stopped with cork should be stored on their sides in relatively cool temperatures. Storing a bottle on its side keeps the cork moist and in proper condition to keep the air away from the wine, and thus not damage the wine.
- Wines with screwtops should be stored vertically, as there is no need to keep the screwtop moist to be effective.
- Most red wines should be opened at least thirty minutes or so prior to drinking. Red wines contain tannins that come from the grape skins and other excess. These tannins can give wine a “tinny” taste when first opened. This taste eventually will dissipate when the wine has been given proper time to breathe, or aerate. Opening the bottle will accomplish this though pouring the wine in a decanter is more effective, as is pouring wine into a glass or glasses. Both allow air to interact with much more of the wine’s surface. During an event, you certainly should not wait on the wine to aerate if you have run out of red wine. Slightly less-than-ideal wine is better than no wine at all.
- The most versatile wine glass is the basic red wine glass. These are typically 10 ounce, clear glasses with a nice, full bowl. It works well enough for all types of wine, excepting sparkling wine, and certainly for entertaining purposes. Decent quality glasses can be purchased at IKEA, Target and your local restaurant supply store for $1 or less each. There are dozens of shapes and styles of wine glasses. Overly-serious wine enthusiasts have specially crafted glasses in different shapes and sizes for the specific wines for the major varietals and wine regions. You might even notice some people who might bring expensive crystal glasses with their own carrying case with them when they are drinking wines outside of the house. These are often those whose wine knowledge is far less than their pretensions. Though these type of wine glasses actually do help to taste the wines more effectively, this type of obnoxious behavior is best avoided unless you have your Master of Wine certification.
- Wine glasses should be filled to about one-third to halfway. Wine should be poured to the widest part of the wine glass, and not more than halfway. This is done to allow the wine to be swirled in the glass and for the aromas to collect in it, which enhances the taste of the wine. Champagne flutes can be filled higher, as can the specially designed glasses for dessert wines. But, excepting the early moments at the dinner party when appropriateness is more important, wine glasses can be filled as high as you and the guests want or need.
- Champagne and other sparkling wines should be served in flutes. The thin bowl of the flutes helps to reduce the exposed surface of the wine, and so slow down the loss of carbonation. A regular wine glass is fine, too.
- Wines do not last very long after opening. Wines are meant to be consumed within a few hours after opening, and will not last a second day unless you have a device like a hand-pump vacuum sealer that helps to remove the air from the bottle, and then stops it with a sealant. Another option is a neutral preservative gas such as the Private Reserve Wine Preserver brand that helps keeps wine usable for a while longer with its original cork or cap. Though not nearly as effective as these, the easiest and most convenient way to keep your wine in decent shape for another day or two (three is a stretch), is to simply put the cork back onto the bottle and put it in the refrigerator. Prior to drinking the stored red wine, if possible, pull it from the refrigerator an hour or so beforehand so to allow it to warm to near room temperature.
- Once a bottle is opened, you should enjoy it until the last drop. If you have had your fill and there is still is some wine, do not throw it away. To paraphrase a character in a later Graham Greene novel, “no wine can be regarded as unimportant since the wedding at Cana.”
