Booze Clues: Wine Advice from Somm In The City

The world of wine can be a bit intimidating. There are so many types! How's a girl to choose? I recently had an opportunity to pick the brain of sommolier (and fellow booze blogger), Sara Lehman of Somm in the City about some of the basics.

SNB: We're often judged by the content of our cup. With this in mind, what are a couple of varietals to generally avoid when someone’s aiming to impress (especially at a restaurant or bar)?

SITC: Avoid the typical choices like Pinot Grigio or Pinot Noir. Of course some spots have excellent wines by the glass with these grapes, but there are usually more fun and interesting grapes on the list.

SNB: What should she opt for instead?

SITC: Well, depending on the restaurant and their wine selection, its always fun to choose something unique but approachable. If you enjoy crisp whites with some yellow fruit and roundness, go for an Albarino from Spain or White Burgundy from France, which will be a Chardonnay grape varietal. Also if they have a Gavi or a Gruner Veltliner, these are fun grapes with striking acidity if she is a total pinot grigio fan. For an approachable red a Garnacha, Malbec, or Chianti are always good choices. These wines tend to be great on their own, and if you decided to order a light bite or two, are very food friendly!

SNB: Some varietals are great alone. Some are better with food. What's one of the most versatile?

SITC: It really depends what you like to drink and what you are eating at the time. Many whites such as a buttery California Chardonnay can go great with lighter meat dishes

SNB: So... boxed wine. Is there such a thing as a good wine in a box? And do you ever sneak a sip in private?

SITC: Boxed wine tends to have a bad rap, because when its not used for sangria or “slapping the bag” games, its just less expensive wine that can hang outside the fridge for longer than the bottle usually does. Good boxed wine does exist, and a few brands are Public House, Shania, and Beso del Sol or Don Simon Sangria.

I wouldn’t say leave these wines in your room or cellar to age, but they are very drinkable now. They're also good for when you need to make batched cocktails or when having a party where lots of wine is needed.

SNB: If you're just getting into wine, but your drink of choice until now has been cosmos or apple martinis, what's a good place to start?

SITC: Because of the acidity and alcohol in those cocktails, certainly start with a Sauvignon Blanc from California or New Zealand. The Apple Martini has some herbaceous and grassy notes like the SB from NZ would have, and the fruity California SB will be light and fruity like a cosmopolitan. Approach a wine with striking acidity first to see what you like and can handle, and then if you choose to move to a red, go for an Oregon Pinot Noir, a Washington State Cabernet, or a California Cab or Merlot.

SNB: Bonus- which pair of shoes remind you of your favorite wine?

SITC: I certainly get a lot of my shoes from Aldo and am very into Mary Jane-like shoes. They are stylish and classic, and can be worn with almost every outfit day or night. This shoe style reminds me of Champagne, which also is stylish and classic, and can be enjoyed anytime of day!

Aldo doesn't have any mary janes at the moment. However, this Galelawen ankle strap pump seems to have the qualities Sarah described. They're on sale at the moment, too.

Booze News: Bellus Wines Lauches (With Cheat Sheet Labels)

 

New to Wine? Don’t Whine…

I’m pretty well versed about cocktails and spirits. However, wine often makes me want to don a dunce cap. Granted, I’m learning (and giving you tidbits of info when they come my way), but it’s a wide wine world out there (and it can be a bit intimidating).

Jordan Salcito, wine director of New York’s Crown restaurant, realized that lots of us get a bit lost among the vines in the wine store and decided to place a few bread crumbs along the trail with Bellus Wines. Launching today with the goal of empowering wine newbies to learn more about their palate preferences, Bellus retails for around $19.99 (a percentage of the proceeds from each bottle sold will go to the Tory Burch Foundation). The inaugural release, a 2007 Girasole, is a Super-Tuscan red made from Sangiovese, Cabernet, Sauvignon and Merlot grapes (if only you could see the question mark on my face). Apparently, it boasts notes of dark cherry and roasted herbs (sounds um… interesting) and plays well with tomato-based foods and red meats. (I’d so love a bottle for a Booze Review.)

The cool part about this wine, though, is the label, which Salcito joined forces with a Tory Burch designer to conceptualize. The trademarked PALA-TABLE actually has icons on it to indicate its acidity, body, tannins, minerality, oak and complexity. I guess that gives you everything you need to decide whether you’ll like it (except a sip). The wine is available exclusively through Gilt Taste for the next three days and will then be sold by the Crush Wine Company and on Belluswines.com.

Technorati Tags: Wine news,booze news,Bellus Wine

Booze Clues: 5 Affordable Wines to Sip When You Want to Impress

 

Winning While Wining

 

Cocktails are great, but there are occasions when a glass of malbec is more appropriate than a martini. That said, it’s important to know what to sip and when. Bill Traverso, a professional wine judge and Director of Wine Competitions for Vineyard and Winery Management Group, volunteered to provide expert advice for sipping in certain instances. He also promised he’d suggest wines that won’t break the bank (because you’ll surely also want new shoes for said instances).

 

A date

For a date, I would recommend Italian Prosecco, such as the NV Ruggeri Gold Label (approx $20 per bottle). It can be enjoyed before, during, and after a meal and is an elegant change from Champagne. **Photo & price via Buywineusa.com

Your future mother-in-law

This is an important one, so I’m going with a very specific recommendation: the Finger Lakes Semi-Dry Riesling 2010 Keuka Spring; it is a classic, light Riesling that suits almost everyone’s palate. In fact, it just won Best of Class in the 2011 International Eastern Wine Competition (More info on the competition here)

At lunch/ dinner with the boss

Russian River Valley/Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is an excellent choice for a lunch or dinner with the boss. It varies in price, but always delivers rich flavors of red and black grapes.

As a hostess gift for someone you don’t know that well

Chardonnay is the perfect wine gift because of its light crisp taste and versatility. California Chardonnay is almost always a good bet; for a specific, try the 2010 Round Hill Oak Free Chardonnay (approx $8 per bottle) which won Best of Class in the 2011 West Coast Wine Competition (More info on the competition here) *Image and price info via Snooth.com.

Hanging out with a high-brow crowd

French Rhône blends are perfect for high-brow crowds; they are full of dark, deep flavors that are sure to satisfy anyone who tries them.

Now that you know what to drink, please don’t hesitate if you’d like advice on which shoes you should wear to complement the contents of your glass. Also, don’t forget to read up on international affairs and maybe glance at the Cliff’s Notes for a piece of classic literature or two. Your wine knowledge won’t wow your audience ALL night.

Technorati Tags: Wine expert,expert tips,wine tips,affordable wines