A wine-tasting date can take many forms, ranging from informal and unstructured to highbrow and high rent. Our own preference is for wine with corks instead of screw-off caps, but still no more than $8 to $12 a bottle. (In defense of really cheap wine, when one of us was working as a waiter, he switched the contents of the wine during a special tasting for people in the restaurant business. As soon as the pompous host began to marvel at the wine in the bottle with the most expensive label, the other tasters quickly agreed at what a precious find this was. They immediately ordered several cases for their restaurants to sell. Of course, what was really in the bottle with the most expensive label was Thunderbird at $2.99 a liter, but by that point, to let the bird out of the bag would not have been such a good idea.)
Whatever your personal preference, wine tasting can be both fun and educational in ways you never thought possible. Fortunately, wines come from everywhere these days—California, Washington, Oregon, Missouri, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Germany, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and even France. COST
A wine tasting can be free, but more likely it will cost between $12 and $40 per person. You can also have your own wine tasting at home, where you purchase three to six bottles, or have friends bring a bottle each. A TASTING AT HOME
It's easy to do it at home—a few bottles of wine, clean glasses, a wine opener, and you are ready to start sipping away.
Also, select a certain category of wine, and ask different friends to each bring a bottle for a tasting. SWIRL AND PUCKER—HOW TO TASTE WINE
This is the simple version. If you want a more in-depth approach to wine tasting, try some of the resources on the next page:
1. There's no need to select expensive wines. There is a huge selection of moderately-priced wines that are quite good. Your local wine shop can help. Look for wine reviews in the local paper. Go online and do a search under wine reviews.
2. Have a note pad for each of you so you can write down your thoughts on the wines you taste.
3. Have a glass of water for each of you. You'll want to swirl and swallow some water after tasting each wine. This will help prime your pallet for the next swig.
4. Always start with white wines first and begin with the youngest wine. The date is on the bottle. So if you have a 1997 and a 1999, start with the ‘99, then taste the ‘97.
5. Open red wines and let them breathe fifteen to thirty minutes before serving.
6. Pour about a half-inch of wine into each glass. Swirl the wine in the glass and check out the color. How would you describe it? Try to be a little more creative than saying "red" or "pink."
7. Put your nose to the glass and inhale. How does the wine smell? If you are really into this, you can order a wine wheel that describes the different aromas. This is available from the wine-maker's school at UC Davis at http://wineserver.ucdavis.edu/.
8. Taste the wine. Experts suggest rolling the wine around in your mouth. Try to describe the initial taste and the aftertaste.
9. Sip some water and try the next wine using a clean glass.
10. After you have tasted all of the wines, start the second round with those you liked the best. After you polish off the good wine, the others won't taste as bad.
WHERE TO DO IT BESIDES AT HOME
RESTAURANTS: Wine tastings at a restaurant can range from a straightforward sampling of different wines to a tasting that includes a full-course dinner. Contact your local restaurants to see which offer wine tastings.
WINE BARS: Bars that specialize in serving only wine are popping up all over the country. You can find a list at www.winespectator.com.
WINERIES: A great way to spend a day is by taking a drive to a winery for a tasting. Be sure to call ahead for hours of operation. Most wineries have tasting rooms with a sampling of their wines. The tastings are usually free, although the winery will also offer glasses of wine for sale. If you find a wine you like, it may be a good idea to buy a bottle or two. To find states that have wineries try http://wine.about.com/mbody.htm. Or enter "winery" in your internet search engine and include the name of your state. For California only, check out the list at www.winespectator.com. WARNING: The highway patrol does not go any easier on drivers whose intoxication is from a proper wine tasting. Have a designated driver or see if there is a guided tour of local wineries that includes transportation. WINE CLASSES
Many wineries, wine shops, universities, community colleges and cooking schools offer wine-tasting classes and seminars. Classes are usually completed in one sitting or there might be a series of six or seven classes. Try searching online for "wine classes" plus enter your state. You might check www.wineinstitute.org for classes or look up wine shops in the Yellow Pages. WINE SHOPS
Some wine shops are very generous with help for the beginner; others are rude. The staff will usually help you pick out wines, but if the staff is unhelpful or has an attitude, leave. And don't be talked into buying expensive wines that are out of your budget. WINE-TASTING GROUPS & CLUBS
There are wine-tasting groups and clubs that offer classes and tastings. Prices are usually very reasonable. You can find these organizations in the Yellow Pages, on the internet or in the food section of your local newspaper.
WHICH WINE TO DRINK WITH DINNER?
For help in finding the right wine to drink with your favorite meal, check www.wineloverspage.com. This site has advice on what wines to serve with everything from Artichokes (try a tart, crisp wine) to Venison (how about a hearty red wine).
For the most important food groups, such as chocolate, the folks at www.winespectator.com recommend a sweet, high alcohol portlike red from southern France called Banyuls. If you can't find that, try another port or maybe a cabernet. For the most important white food group (popcorn drenched with butter and an avalanche of salt) we at www.goofyfootpress.com recommend a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. HOW-TO RESOURCES
The Instant Wine Connoisseur : A Practical Guide to Tasting, Buying and Cooking With Wine by Mervyn L. Hecht; $9.95.
No-Brainers on Wine; $14.99. This video takes you through all of the fundamentals of how to taste wine and talk intelligently about it. Viewers learn how to shop for wine, how to open the bottle, the best serving temperatures and how to pair wines with different foods. You can order this video online at:
