Learning how to drink Wine is like the first day of a new job.
At first, you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing – and that can be scary and overwhelming.
You don’t know how to use the computer programs. You don’t know your coworkers or superiors. You might not know your way around the building. Someone has to show you how to do your job.
There is a learning curve involved.
But then, slowly, you begin to feel comfortable sitting at your computer. You’re comfortable talking with your coworkers. You start to feel like you are getting the hang of this job thing.
You start to make friends with your coworkers, and they start inviting you to grab drinks after work.
Suddenly, this world that you felt so uncomfortable in is starting to make sense. You’ve gained the knowledge you need to perform your job. You’ve been practicing after all, by coming to work day after day and repeating the same motions until it’s become second nature.
And then it happens – you’re good at your job. It feels like it’s all of the sudden, but you’ve been working your butt off. You’ve taken one step, and then another, until you’ve reached your goal.
You have mastered your job, and you thought you would never feel like you knew what you were doing.
Learning about wine is the same thing.
There are so many things to know that it feels like you’ll never learn it all. That may be true, but you can learn enough to enjoy drinking wine with confidence.
Just like learning a new job, learning about wine takes some time and practice. You need to be willing to try new things.
But hey – you get to drink alcohol while you learn.
What’s better than that?
So how do you know which wines to choose without wasting your money? How do you avoid making a mistake?
You need some practice – and some knowledge.
Some Current Statistics About Wine in the United States
- From 2015 – 2017, the United States was the leading wine consumer in the world, with 15% of the world’s consumption of wine.
- From 2015 – 2017, the United States was #3 in wine production in the world.
- 40 % of Americans drink wine
- California holds 44% of the United States’ wineries, with Washington and Oregon following at 8%
- California makes 81% of the wine in the United States
- Climate change is having an impact on the wine industry as wineries are forced to move to higher ground due to increased residual sugars in wines.
- According to “The State of the Wine Industry Report 2019”, Millennials refuse to enter the premium wine market, buying consistently in the $8 – $11 range.
With the wine industry booming, it’s a good idea to know some basic facts about the 4 most common varietals in the United States. The industry will continue see growth in the coming years. It’s also important to pay attention to Millennials refusal to buy wine in the premium market. As they get older and become a larger purchasing demographic, the wine industry will have to listen – and hopefully their response will be better quality wines at affordable prices.
I am one of the first Millennials at 37, and I have a hard time spending more than $15 on a bottle of wine. But I love to try new wines. This has led to my research of the world of buying wine online, with some pretty favorable results. Stay tuned to future posts on the best places I have found to buy wine online for great prices.
But first, you need to have some knowledge to know what you’re looking for.
Knowing these Varieties Will Give You Power to Master any Dinner Party – Can You Tell the Difference?
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon | Zinfandel | Merlot | Pinot Noir |
| Color | Deep Ruby | Deep red with purplehue | Deep ruby/ blue | Pale ruby |
| Smell | Black current, tomato, leaf, cedar wood, dark spices | Licorice, black pepper, cardamom, smoke | blackberry, baking spices, vanilla, smoke, tobacco leaves, wet | Red berries, cherries, violets, leather |
| Taste | Cedar, baking spices, black cherry, black currant | Fruits, overripe nectarine, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, cherry, plums, raisins, tobacco, black pepper | Plum, black cherry, bay leaf, vanilla, chocolate, clove | fruit flavors, including raspberry, cherry, rhubarb, mushroom, floral rose |
| Body | Full-bodied | Medium- bodied | Medium- bodied | Light- bodied |
| Food Pairings | Red meat (steaks, burgers, prime rib), aged cheddar, stilton, and gouda | Chicken, pork, beef, lamb, pasta, cured meat, gruyere, gouda, asiago, blue cheese, and manchego | Steak, chimichurri, lamb, pasta with tomato based sauce, gorgonzola, brie, Jarlsberg, and paremesan | Wide range of foods, including Salmon, chicken, pork, pasta, mushrooms, goat cheese, feta, brie, and Swiss cheese |
| What Sets it Apart? | It has higher levels of a compound called Methoxy- pyraxin, which gives it a vegetable aroma (think bell peppers) | It has a big flavor range, from light and fruity to complex to big and bold. | It can be grown in both cool and hot climates | It has low tannins and medium high acidity, meaning it pairs well with a wide variety of foods |
| Why Should I Care? | It’s the most popular wine in the world. It also has a higher alcohol content, so keep that in mind when you decide who’s driving home. | It’s range and availability give you a lot of options for pairing with food and pleasing any taste at an affordable price. | Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are half- siblings, with Cabernet Franc as parent grape. Experienced tasters have a hard time telling them apart. Merlot is a fraction of the price of Cabernet, so you’ll be getting a better value for a wine that tastes basically the same. | Because it pairs well with a wide variety of foods, it’s a great choice for a dinner party or a gift. It’s a safe choice at the store. |
| Fun Fact | This grape is the product of natural genetic crossing between Cabernet Franc (red grape) and Sauvignon Blanc (white grape) | Zinfandel is related to Italy’s Primitivo, and may actually be the same grape | Merlot means “Little Black Bird” in French. | It’s the ancestor to many grapes including Gamay Noir and Chardonnay |
| Good Wines Under $15 | Columbia Crest, Kirkland Napa CountyLine 39, Kirkland Columbia Valley | Cline Ancient Vines, Layer Cake, Sonoma County Old Vine Zinfandel, Carnivore | Cupcake Vineyards, 14 Hands Winery, H3 Merlot, Columbia Crest | Kirkland Carneros Pinot Noir, Bonterra, Kirkland Russian River Valley |
Now You Can Have Confidence to Choose Wine You’ll Love
Now that you’re armed with the knowledge about the 4 most common wine varietals in the United States, you can choose your wine with confidence.
If you need a wine that can cut through rich steak, choose a Cabernet.
If you want an extremely available and fruity wine with more body to pair with a richer meal, choose a Zinfandel.
Want a great tasting wine at a lower price? Check out the Merlot section.
If you need a light wine that pairs well with anything, choose a Pinot Noir.
Just remember that you can’t go wrong as long as you try wine. If you don’t try different varieties, you’ll never learn what you like and don’t like.
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The post How to Master the 4 Most Common Wine Varieties in the US appeared first on Simply Playful Fare.
