Red Wine

It's been a while since I've had some delicious red wine.  People often ask me if I like red wine or white wine better. I always say I like both. Which is true, except that 75 percent of the time my ritual glass of wine after dinner is white. There are two reasons for this. However, it doesn't mean that I don't like them each equally well for their own characteristics. It's just under different circumstances sometimes.

The first reason is that, in my opinion, a bottle of white wine is easy to stretch into the third day, or even 4th if necessary.  And for some reason, very few reds seem to hold up more than a couple of days. Feel free to disagree. But, I enjoy reds best the night that I open them. So, that means I need to share a bottle with someone on a school night, and on a weekend night...two bottles with someone. I mean, it's kind of fun to try a couple of different wines if you have company.  Also, if I have leftover white wine that is no longer "drinkable" it's always useful to have some extra cooking wine, and I tend to use white more than red when I cook. 

The second reason? Well, I think I am a bit pickier about my reds. My stance is that it is waaay easier to drink a bad (or mediocre) white wine, than a bad (or mediocre) red wine. Maybe it's the fact that white wine is chilled. Chilling subdues the flavor, etc, etc.  Usually, my 'pickier' also equates to mean more expensive. I'm not talking a lot of money, but 1.5 to 2x as much as I spend on a white for a random Tuesday night (unless it's a special or occasion or I'm mad at the world and am willing to spend a ridiculous amount of money for a Tuesday night wine that I'm probably not pairing with dinner or sharing with anyone cool...or anyone).  My usual price range for a bottle of white is between $4 and $13 (thank you Trader Joe's for $4 bottles of Vinho Verde).  But, I'll easily spend $15 on a white burgundy...but that's a story for another post. My red wine price range usually starts at.... $10 and goes up to $25... I'd pay more for something really special, but usually I just settle for something more economical.  So, you can see...my wine budget stretches much further when I buy white.  

But, I do like reds...And I'm craving some now.  Mmm, reds can be beautifully complex with a hit of mocha, blackberry, cherry, mushroom, tobacco; velvety or super smooth; pair beautifully with red sauce or lamb.  Maybe it's the complexity that I look for in my reds that drives up the price.  Maybe it's one of those personal-palate mysteries. Some of my favorite varietals are: pinot noir, syrah/shiraz, malbec, tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon. Favorite region-based wines are Burgundy (France), Rioja (Spain), Clare Valley (Australia), Marlborough (New Zealand), Willamette Valley (Oregon, USA).

Come drink some with me. I'll supply the wine and music (maybe a little Eva Cassidy?). 

See you soon.