What's the way to drink wine to get used to it?!
What's the way to drink wine to get used to it?
I want to start drinking wine without grimacing. It's hard for me to believe that I can take shots of hard liquor just okay but the taste of a bold wine makes me pucker my lips. I know people say to start out on white zinfandel, but where should I go on from there for both white and red wines?
Answers:
Puckering is usually from either the tannin or acidity. As a result, you want to start out with wine with low tannin or acidity.
For most people, I recommend to start with white wines. White wines, such as Sauvignon blanc, tend to be on the fruity side without too much oak or acidity. Blush wines like Rose, including White Zinfandel, is another good choice. What you are trying to get used to is the mix of alcohol and the flavor. To learn about wine is to learn about what is underneath the alcohol - the flavor and the variety.
For Suavignon blanc, I like to recommend the basics, such as Chateau St. Michelle ($15), Duckhorn ($20), Conundrum ($25). For Rose, my personal favorite is Bonny Doon's Vin Gris de Cigares ($15). Other good choices include Viognair, which can be fairly cheap and also offer a good introduction to white wines.
As for red wine, the tannin is what makes it bitter and puckers your lips. So, you want to look for wines that are lower in tannin. Cabernet and merlot are high in tannin, whereas Pinot Noir and Zinfandel tend to be lower. Syrah and Petit Syrah are medium in tannin but also spicy. I would recommend Pinot Noir as a start, with possibly Zinfandel after that.
There are a good number of excellent Pinot Noir. These are typically more fruity and light in body. I usually recommend Benton Lane Pinot Noir ($15) to start out, since they are cheaper. Once you like it, you can try others such as Mondavi ($20), Siduri (cheaper ones in $20's range), Wilamette ($25), Foley ($30), or Hartfort Court ($35). As for Zinfandel, it is usually more medium body, higher in alcohol, and much more berry and jammy. I love anything from Rosenblum ($10-35) and Ridge ($25-35). Many other Californian winemakers also make great Zinfandels. Once you are used to this, then you can move onto Syrah or Merlot and eventually to Cabernet.
One last piece of advice. Please don't buy cheap wine. Cheap wines are cheaply made - not necessary bad, but just cheaply made. Like I always said, when you pay peanuts, you get peanuts.