Choosing and Buying Wine for the Beginner

Red Wine For The Beginner

2008-01-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

For most people, choosing the correct wine for a dinner can be an overwhelming experience. This is only made worse by the bewildering variety of red wines available. Fortunately with a good cheap discount wine price guide on hand, you'll have ease in choosing the correct wine for a dinner with just five basic red wines.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most popular red wines available. It is a medium to full-bodied wine which is high in tannins with a range of rich tones including berry, tobacco and even green pepper. Cabernet compliments red meats, lamb, red pasta dishes, dark chocolates and strong cheeses.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is a slightly pricier due since it can only be grown in specific climates. It has a lighter color and flavor than most reds with tones of sweet berries, cherries, plums, tomatoes and earthy or woody undertones. Pinot Noir is a versatile wine and works well with fish, poultry, lamb, pork (including ham) spicy seasonings and cream sauces.

Zinfandel

Zinfandel is a rich, dark red wine with flavors of sweet berries, plums and black pepper and undertones of oak. It should not be confused with the blush-colored White Zinfandel, another popular wine for the beginner. Red Zinfandel pairs well with red or white meat and more casual dishes such as fish tacos and burgers.

Merlot

Merlot is an smooth and mellow red making it a good wine for the beginner. It has a low tannin count and a wide range of fruit flavors including plums, cherries, blueberries and blackberries. Merlot pairs well with red meats, pork, pastas and salads.

Shiraz

Shiraz is a medium to full-bodied wine that's not as sharp as many younger reds. It has a wide range of flavors such as black cherry, blackberry, plum, bell and black pepper, licorice and sometimes dark chocolate and smoked meat. Shiraz pairs well with grilled meats and vegetables, wild game, stews and rustic pizzas.

These are just a few of the many varieties of red wines to chose from. Fortunately, with a good cheap discount wine price guide you can find $50 qualities red wines for only $10 and sample them all.

White Wine For The Beginner

2008-01-08T07:47:00.000-08:00

Do fancy white wine names intimidate you? Wish you knew the difference between a Pinot Blanc and a Pinot Grigio? Have no fear. Armed with a good cheap discount wine price guide, you'll have no trouble choosing the correct wine for a dinner with just five basic white wines.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a popular white wine and is a good wine for the beginner. Chardonnay has undertones ranging from buttery oak to apple, pear, citrus and melon. This wine pairs well with seafood, pork, poultry and recipes with a cream base.

Pinot Blanc

A light medium-dry to dry white wine, Pinot Blanc has undertones of citrus pear, apricot or melon with an occasional hint of smokiness. It works well with light-flavored meats, mild cheeses, seafood and light or medium sauces.

Pinot Grigio

Also called Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio is another good wine for the beginner. It has undertones which range from melon to pear with the occasional note of tropical or citrus fruits. Pinot Grigio is fairly acidic and is compliments cheese and crackers, light pasta dishes and seafood.

Riesling

Riesling is a crisp, refreshing versatile wine. Look for the word tocken on the label if you like a dry Riesling or Auslese if you prefer a sweet one. Rieslings commonly have apple, peach or pear aromas and have floral and earthy undertones. They can handle spicy Asian foods as well as appetizers, desserts, fish, pork and poultry.

Sauvignon Blanc

Another versatile white, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp and refreshing medium-bodied wine. It has a broad range of flavors from herbal to earthy with citrus or tropical fruit undertones. Sauvignon Blanc works well with earthy foods such as artichoke dip, vegetable dishes and dips and Greek and Caesar salads.

Whether a Chardonnay or Pinot Grigot is a better wine is up to you. In the end, the best wine is the one you like, not what some wine reviewer gushed about. So grab your wine buyers guide cheat sheet and go shopping!

Sweet Wine Selection Tips

2008-01-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

For those of us with a sweet tooth (guilty), sweet wines are a good way to ease into wine appreciation. I wouldn't be surprised if Ed Gandia, author of one of my favorite ebooks on wine, used this technique to turn his wife into a wine lover. Here are a few wine selection tips for finding sweet wines.

White Zinfandel

Also called White Zin, this is arguably the most popular wine for the beginner. It is sweet blush made when the skin of the grape is allowed to affect the wine making process for only a short time. White Zinfandel goes with just about anything and is a great with light dishes which makes it a popular summer wine.

Port

Port is a dessert wine made thick and sweet by the addition of brandy. As a result, it has a higher alcohol content than most wines. It is a perfect evening wine for sipping by a fire with a bit of cheese or chocolate and a good book.

Merlot

Merlot contains more tannins than White Zinfandel which makes it a bit drier and a good step up into "real" red wines. It has a gentle plum-like flavor and compliments medium-bodied foods such as chops and burgers.

Chianti

Chianti is the classic wine in the straw bottle that's often used as a candle holder in one's first apartment. The wine is light a fruity and is perfect for other first apartment standbys such as pizza and lasagna.

Shiraz

Also known as Syrah, Shiraz is the Australian name for the wine made from the Syrah grape. Why the name Shiraz stuck instead of Syrah, no one knows. Shiraz wines are spicy and peppery and go best with steak and spicy dishes.

Sweet wines are often inexpensive, so you'll have to shop careful to avoid the swill. A good cheap discount wine price guide will help you separate the true bargains from the vinegars.

Cooking With Wine for the Beginner

2008-01-04T19:23:00.000-08:00

If you're planning to cook with wine, never use anything labeled "cooking wine". These are extremely bad quality wines with lots of salt added to keep winos from getting a cheap fix. A bad wine won't just boil away, it will ruin a good meal. I use a great little wine cheat sheet to help me shop for wines that will make my food sing. Here are a few wine selection tips for cooking.

Port

Wines such as Port, Marsala or Madiera are called "fortified wines" because they all have brandy added to them. As a result, they are usually thick and sweet and best suited for rich sauces. Each of these varieties has a distinct flavor, however, and shouldn't just be swapped or substituted indiscriminately. As always, let your taste be your guide.

Red Wine

Red wines are often used in sauces to add flavor and color to a dish. If a recipe calls for a particular type of wine, it's best to follow that suggestion. Otherwise just use a red you like. When a "light bodied" wine is recommended, either a Pinot Noir or Merlot will work well. For "full bodied" wines, a Cabernet or Chianti is best.

White Wine

White wines add the least flavor to a dish, so you have more leeway in your choices. Often they're used in cream sauces to add a hint of flavor. For a light bodied white, try a Pinot Grigiot. A Chardonnay, particularly a California variety, is a good full bodied choice. When in doubt, just choose one you like.

One of my favorite ebooks on wine has helped me find high quality wines for cooking for less than $10 a bottle. That's important to me since I don't want to feel like I'm boiling away my paycheck every time I cook a nice meal.

Quick Wine Buyers Guide

2008-01-04T14:19:00.000-08:00

Choosing the correct wine for a dinner or gathering of friends doesn't have to be hard as long as you keep in mind these easy wine selection tips.

Price

Typically the quality of wine you get will be determined by the price you're willing to pay. However, while you used to have to shell out $30 or more for a decent bottle of wine, nowadays there are many labels that offer excellent wines for as little as $15 or less. I've used my favorite cheap discount wine price guide to find many $50 quality wines for less than $10.

Preference

Unless you're drinking alone (hopefully not), you'll have to consider the preferences of your guests when buying wine. When choosing red wine, you may want to stick with some safe "Starter Reds" such as Merlot or Pinot Noir. If you want to go for slightly more complex flavors, you can try a Cabernet or Zinfandel. Safe whites include Riesling for sweeter tastes or Chardonnay for those who prefer a drier white.

Pairings

Choosing the correct wine for a dinner is as simple as understanding common food wine parings. At it's simplest, white wines tend to be best for lighter dishes like poultry and seafood while reds are better suited to heartier foods such as beef and strong cheeses. But even with a good wine buyers guide, the best wine you'll choose will ultimately come down to what you and your guests like most.

Choosing the Correct Wine for a Dinner

2008-01-03T12:50:00.000-08:00

Choosing the correct wine for a dinner doesn't have to be complicated. It also doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. I've got a great little beginner guide to wine that showed me how to get $50 bottles of wine for $10 or less. Here are a few simple tips that will help you in choosing the correct wine for a dinner.

White Wine

White wine is a good choice for salads and lighter dishes. Grilled fish or seafood with light sauces work well with a Dry Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, while seafood or pasta with cream sauces and oysters are best suited to a Chardonnay. Shrimp, crab and lobster enjoy a Dry Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc. Poultry can be served with any of the above wines, while pork prefers a Dry Riesling or Chardonnay. Finally, the sweet White Riesling is best served with mild cheese or chocolate.

Red Wine

Heavier foods such as beef and pastas with red sauces work well with robust reds such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet and Zinfandel. Similarly, strong cheeses are also complimented by these selections. While white wines work best with poultry and pork, a Pinot Noir is the classic compliment for a turkey's rich flavor as well as heavier pork dishes. And nothing complements chocolate like a nice mellow Merlot or a rich Cabernet.

So how do you decide between a Dry Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc for a seafood dish? That's really a matter of taste, and I can't help you there. However, with these tips and a good wine buyers guide, you'll have no trouble choosing the correct wine for dinner every time.