Atypical or A Typical Wine

By Reese Fisher

 

 

Ever wonder what makes a wine popular or more obscure? One answer lies in this simple question: Where in the world are you sitting? Are you in Languedoc, France? North Bay, California? The Boberg region of South Africa? The answer means you may be more apt to have a Picpoul or a Sangiovese or a fortified wine in your glass. For those of you wondering, yes, Sangiovese is being grown in California.

 

Most of what is tried is based on someone else exclaiming “Hey, this is amazing, you have to try it!”  And there you have the beginning of a popular wine. However, just like your friends like their steak well done and you like yours rare, you may not like every wine that they do. Thankfully, there are many varietals and numerous ways to make each varietal distinctly different. Not in the mood for a Chardonnay but want a full-bodied white with some great aromatics, try that Picpoul de Pinet from Languedoc. Want something light and crisp but not a Pinot Grigio? Check out that Alvarinho from the Vinho Verde region of Portugal.  Are you a red wine drinker and want to try a white with your chicken liver pate? Go for that bottle of Gewürztraminer.

 

Another hardship wine drinkers face pertains to what wines are available for purchase. That delightful and lovable sparkling Brachetto from Italy can be hard to find out side of the Acqui region it is produced in. This is where that “boutique” wine spot you like so much comes in. They might not have the Beaujolais Nouveau you can’t help but see everywhere around Thanksgiving, but they may have the more elegant Beaujolais-Village wines. Perhaps they may have a Bouilly, or gasp, a Cotes de Brouilly, all of which are made with the Gamay grape.

 

The world of wine is extensive and can sometimes be highly intimidating. The easiest way to see what you like is to try it. No longer should you shy away from the unknown. Instead, embrace it in a glass and give it a swirl. If you are handed a list of wines offered by the glass and don’t recognize one of them, ask to taste that Montepulciano or Gruner Veltliner. Who knows, that wine could be your new favorite.

 

Above all, always remember: the more you drink, the more you know.