Introduction to the Reds

It’s hard to learn and appreciate wine without learning just a little bit about the grapes. No, wine is not made from the typical, seedless concord grapes that are found in the local supermarket. Wine grapes are grown specifically for making wine which sets them apart from the normal grapes we eat.

In this segment, I will explore some of the more popular varietals of grapes that are used to make red wine and there correct pronunciations. Although, there are literally hundreds of different types of wine grapes, I’ll just touch on the basics and leave the rest for you to discover on your own.

Cabernet Sauvignon - (CAB-er-nay SAW-vin-YAWN) Sometimes referred to as the “king” of wine grapes, cabernet sauvignon is known to be one of the best wine producing grapes in the world. This is due to its dependability and its reputation for making some of the finest wines. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes have a thick skin which allow them to grow in many different types of climates. These grapes produce what is called a “black currant” flavor mixed with hints of blackberry, black cherry, herds and oak.

Merlot - (Mer-LOW) “I’m not drinking any f&@king merlot.” This is a line made famous in the movie “Sideways” but don’t let it turn you away from this type of wine. Merlot is a more subtle grape when compared to other reds due to less natural acids and tannins. It is widely used in blends of different grapes but can be just as good on its own. The climates found in Chile and California are great regions for Merlot grapes to thrive. Merlot is known for flavors of plum, black cherry, and violet.

Pinot Noir - (PEA-no NWAHR) Pinot Noir grapes are known to be one of the most difficult grapes to grow and produce into wine. This is primarily due to thinness of the skin which makes it more delicate and susceptible to damage or disease. It also is very picky about what type of climate in which the grape will grow. Although, pinot noir is a headache for vineyard owners, it truly produces one of the finest varietals of wine. Fruity flavors of raspberry, strawberry, ripe-grape, and black cherry can be found in pinot noir.

Syrah/Shiraz - (Ser-AH/SHEER-oz) The reason for the slash is because this one varietal of grape is called two different names depending on where you are in the world. The U.S., France and other countries say Syrah while Australia prefers Shiraz. Australia definitely has the right to change the name seeing that the best and most Syrah/Shiraz comes from this region. This thick-skinned, dark colored grape grows best in warmer climates. Syrah/Shiraz is famous for its spicy black cherry, plum and peppery flavors which gives it a distinct “zing.”

This should be enough to get you started. Like I said before, there are many different types of grapes which make up red wine including Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Malbec, and Zinfandel but I will save those for a rainy day. Drink up and enjoy!

Talk the talk

Like every hobby on the planet, from stamp collecting to sky diving, wine also has its own language that has to be learned so you can sound like you know what you are talking about. I guess it would be too much to just be able to say "this wine is really good" or "this is crap" but no, there has to be a large glossary of terms to describe every little detail.

In this post I will start working through some of the most common terms used in wine and try to interpret them in a way that can be understood by the masses. I won't be able to get to all the terms right now so I'll try to cover the basics.

Varietal - This basically means the dominant grape used in that particular wine. Chardonnay, Merlot, and Riesling are all examples of different varietals.

Vintage - This term refers to the year that the grapes were grown and harvested. Most wines are aged for a period of time before they are bottled but no matter how long that is, the harvesting year is what appears on the bottle.

Tannin - These are natural substances found in grapes that cause the “puckering” sensation when drinking wine. Tannins also act as a natural preservative that allows wine to age.

Acidity - Pretty obvious, this term refers to the total acid content of the wine. Acidity is important because the amount of acid can make a big difference in the make-up of the wine, especially when determining if the wine is “sweet” or “dry.”

Dry Wine - The easiest way to put it is wine that is not sweet. This type of wine has little or no residual (unfermented) sugar because it has all been converted into alcohol.

Sweet Wine - Just the opposite of dry wine, sweet wine has more residual sugar. There are different levels of both depending such as semi-sweet depending on the percentage of sugar in the wine.

Body - This term refers to the weight of the wine in your mouth. The body of the wine is usually described as light, medium, or full-bodied. The best example of how the body is measured would be the differences in skim, 2%, and whole milk. It’s the same idea with wines.

There is plenty more terms where these came from but this should get you started. I hope it helps!!!

Where to start?

This is always the "age old" question for no matter what hobby or discipline that anyone wants to pursue.

So maybe, you were at someones house and they served wine at dinner and you liked it or maybe you went to a restaurant where the server handed you the wine list which might as well been a foreign menu. Either way something got you thinking that you would like to know more about wine, you just don't know "where to start." Here are some tips to get you going on the right path (hopefully!).

First things, first: You have to buckle down and drink some. Yep, I said it. You can read about wine all you want but you will never develop your own palate unless you spend a considerable amount of time on the bottle. Of course, this can be an intimidating part of your experience. You don't want to buy something horrible and be turned off to the whole idea, and you definitely don't want to spend too much money for experimentation. I recommend starting on the lighter side of wine: The Whites. White wine is easier to swallow (literally) and provides a good base to work from once you get started. I recommend something simple like Yellow Tail Chardonnay or Woodbridge Pinot Grigio, both priced under $10 and are also good for entertaining.

Step two: Start doing some research. If you are reading this blog, then I can assume that you have some extra time to put into this part of the process. When I say research, I'm not talking about endless hours of reading articles on specific wines, I mean doing some basic investigating into the major details of wine development. Read up on the different types of grapes, wine regions, and how to spot a good wine from a bad one. All of this information is out there you just need to take a little time and sort through it. Look up wine on the Internet or pick up a Introduction to Wine book at the local bookstore and start researching today. Trust me, you will be amazed at how much you will learn in a short amount of time.

Last but not least: Drink some more! If I have said it once, I've said it a thousand times, no amount of literature can compare to your own taste buds. Drink responsibly and enjoy!!

Mission Statement-I am here for you

Welcome to the Poor Boy's Guide to Wine!!

I'll start out by telling you a little about myself and why I have decided to take on the responsibility of educating the average man or woman about wine. I am by no means a wine connoisseur but I’ve been exploring wine for a couple years now and think that I have a good grip on the basics. At the same time, I am the average person who does not have the wallet to purchase the hundred dollar bottle of Bordeaux but still wants to enjoy the best the world of wine has to offer. I usually pick out my wines from the local supermarket or liquor store and do my best to find something that will be both economical and enjoyable.

Now for my mission statement as promised in the title. Have you ever wanted to learn about wine but were turned off by snobby so-called wine experts, high prices, and the wine language that might as well be Greek? If so then this is the place for you.

Wine is not just a delicacy that is reserved for upper class society. It is made to be enjoyed by as many people as possible. Believe it or not, you don’t have to be an expert or max out your credit cards just to be able to enjoy a good bottle of wine. Many great tasting wines can be found in the most unexpected places and can also be found for around $10 to $15.

I’ve decided for the good of the masses that I along with my fiancé will sacrifice ourselves and sample as many wines as we can so that you will get a good amount of reviews to work from. I know, I should be given a medal, but don’t worry about me. I’ll do my best to explain things in layman terms instead of the endless amount of adjectives that have been created by the wine enthusiast. Hopefully through this blog, we can explore wines together and integrate ourselves into a world that we thought was never possible. Enjoy!