As some of you know, I live in wine country. El Dorado County is becoming quite famous for it’s area wines. Because I’m a big supporter of buying local, supporting small business (hey, it’s a good argument), and because eighty percent of the area wineries still pour without charging a fee, I do a lot of wine tasting. I’d like to think I’m becoming quite the aficionado, but I think it’s more correct to say, I’m becoming quite the wine-o.
Let’s face it, with so many wineries to visit, each one having a different line-up, it’s hard not to become familiar with the product and the associated lingo. Remember when wine drinkers had two choices – Chablis and Burgandy? That’s right, you had your red (Burgandy) or your white (Chablis). In my house, Ernest and Julio Gallo started the whole red/white choice thing. Unless of course, you count the Blue Nun Gewürztraminer or the Boone’s Farm Tickle Pink as red or white.
Then along comes a product known as Vin Rose. Remember this hip new trend? Everyone was wanting the rose. My parents were big on the new rose wine. But then, someone bottled a new-fangled white wine called Chardonnay. Not to be outdone, the red wine makers soon offered Merlot and Zinfandel. Wow, the choices!
Nowadays, it would take you a full month to try every wine available at the wineries in my area. The whites include Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Moscato, Riesling, and Semillon, among others.
Red wine drinkers can still enjoy the Merlots and Zinfancels but are now also offered such wonders as Pinot Noir, Barbara, Primitivo, Syrah, Petite Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Alicante Bouuschet, Nebbiolo, Gamay and Mourvedre.
Let’s not forget the folks still stuck on the rose bandwagon. Today they can enjoy Grenache, White Zinfandel or some kind of red/white blend. Of course, if you’re my dad, you still order the Vin Rose. Yes, every waitress in town gives him the same quizzical look, and yes, I still clue them in that he wants a “pink,” wine.
In addition to the abundant varitals, there are dozens of blends, each winery famous for a specific one. In my neck of the woods, its blends like “Rocket Dog,” “Rattler Red,” “Foreplay,” “Pammy’s Couve,” and the like. On top of that, in a lot of places you can taste multiple years of the same varitals and blends. And, in case that’s not enough, there’s also the sparkling wines, the dessert wines and the ports. You can taste from the bottle. You can taste from the barrel. I’m telling you, a person needs weeks to try them all. And, because I’m no quitter, I plan on sampling them. All of them. Like I said, I’m a big supporter of local businesses. And I’ll probably have to do it more than once because, by the time I get done with the first round, the new releases will be out and it’ll be time to do it all over again.
And let’s take a minute to talk about those cute little flavor descriptions they type up for each wine. You know the ones. They tell you what you’re supposed to experience before, during and after you sip. They usually say something like, “a crisp, full-bodied wine with notes of licorice and smoke. Finishes with hints of aged oak and vanilla.” You know what those descriptions NEVER say? They never say the wine will taste like grapes. My description for every single one of those bad boys would be, “it tastes like squashed purple grapes with faint notes of stem and vine.” I mean, I’m no expert, but let’s call a spade a spade here folks. You’re drinking grape juice, it should taste like grapes. Sheesh.
But it’s not just the wines themselves I’m becoming familiar with, it’s the jargon, too. Terms like “full-bodied,” and “oaky” (not to be confused with Okies, who have their own distinct flavor), are easily understood even by novice samplers. Some terms make perfect sense, like “up front,” or “notes of,” but others are just silly. Like, “it has a nice round taste.” Round? Can a person taste a shape? Could it be said that a sandwich has a nice square flavor? That’s like saying, “it smells pink,” or “it feels like yellow.” I suppose I’ll have to keep tasting until I figure that one out. Like I said, I’m no quitter.
How about you? Are you a wine-0 aficionado? Do you like red or white? Or are you like my dad and still enjoy the once-trendy “pink” wines? If you’re not a wine drinker, do you support local small business? Inquiring minds want to know.
Word of the day: Plimsoll
Fun face about me: I like to drink milk. (That’s right. I don’t always drink wine.)
Original post by Jansen Schmidt. Photos courtesy Google Images.
My kind of post! I’m glad I helped you in your research … gosh, it was nearly a year ago now. I’m partial to reds, as you might remember. But sometimes a white will really surprise me. It’s so hot in Texas, I experiment with whites more in the summer when it’s almost (almost!) too blazing to fully enjoy a red. That description above:
“a crisp, full-bodied wine with notes of licorice and smoke…”
I’d order that in a heartbeat! One of my all time favorite reds had an amazing aroma of a cigar box, in a good way. It was fabulous with a price tag to go along with it. 😉
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You know I was thinking of you when I wrote this post. Yes, it was almost a year ago. Next time I’ll have to come by your place and you can share your local stuff with me.
Thanks for stopping by this morning. I’ll keep my eyes open for a cigar box wine for you.
Patricia
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I love Foreplay. And Who’s Your Daddy. Which reminds me, we have a shipment to pick up after Saturday’s meeting. I still love the local Zins, though. I just wish they made bigger bottles. Like 1 1/2 times bigger.
We are blessed to live where we do.
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Hi Kristina – good to see you over here at the Edge of Eternity. So I’m assuming you’re a wine club member at Toogood? I just picked up my port shipment.
Yes, we are blessed to be surrounded by such goodness.
Patricia
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I prefer your descriptions of wines! I like a variety, but I’m with your dad: one of my favorites? Pink Catawba! Yes, we actually have decent wines in Ohio. Including pink! LOL
My daughter has a newfound affection for plimsolls after starting college. 😀
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Hi Jennette. It’s good to see you taking a break from NaNo to pay a visit. I feel honored.
I never doubted that Ohio would not have good wine. It seems like nowadays there’s a winery on every corner. And I have enjoyed a bottle of pink on occasion. I’m especially fond of a pink sparkling in my area; a pomegranate champagne. It’s one of my all time favorites.
Are plimsolls a new thing for your daughter?
Patricia
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Patricia, if I hadn’t admired before, I would now. Have you ever visited the Oregon Willamette Valley? Vineyards galore. And I do enjoy a glass of wine (or three) on a Friday evening to start the weekend off right. I like the sweet white wines – Riesling and Gewürztraminer – I still have NO CLUE how to pronounce it, but that doesn’t stop me from downing it.
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You and I will get along famously – I say “will” because I believe we are destined to meet. I have been to the Willamette Valley, but as a very young girl. Too young to enjoy it’s bounty. I shall return some day.
And, I too enjoy a glass or three of wine in the evenings, and not just Fridays either.
I think it’s Ger Witz ter meaner.
Patricia
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Great post on one of my favorite subjects, Patricia :). I’ve been hearing great things about the wines by you and do know one — Fitzpatrick. They do tastings down here and their reds are excellent!
Recently, there’s been an explosion of wines not far from where I live. Malibu-area wines are becoming quite the thing and the local supermarkets sometimes stock them. My husband and I recently went to a tasting room on Pacific Coast Highway. Great fun! You can’t beat wine and ocean views.
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Hi Debra. It seems as though a lot of my writer friends are also familiar with wine. Wonder if there’s a direct link there? Hmmmm.
Yes, Fitzpatrick has wonderful wines. I’ve been there many times. And it seems like everywhere I go nowadays there’s a winery or tasting room with “local” wines. It’s becoming a huge deal, especially in California.
I’d have to agree – wine and ocean views – doesn’t get any better than that. Except maybe wine and mountain views. I like them both.
Nice to see you.
Patricia
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Hello Patricia-
Sure enjoyed your blog. U know I live what you posted. Do you remember the cute (nice) taster dude at toogood? Andrew! He used to take us to barrel taste. He came into the grill Monday for lunch. I was surprised to see him. He is not working there anymore.
Anyway, loved the blog
Debbi
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Hi Miss Debbi. I do remember Andrew, but I remember Peter more. Remember him? Wonder if he’s still over at Charles Mitchell. We need to get over there and see him – I mean do some tasting. Yeah, that’s it. A feast for the eyes while we get silly on sips.
Toogood is always looking for wine pourers. I see ads for them all the time. I even thought about applying for a weekend tasting room job, but decided against it. What was I thinking?
Thanks for stopping by. Until next time, cheers!
Patricia
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Hi Patricia!
I am not a wine aficionado (although I’d happily hang out at a local winery, always sounds fun). I go for the sweet kind, like Riesling and that’s about it. You probably could’ve guessed I’d like the sweet stuff, considering how much I tend to talk about donuts and such. 🙂
By the way, thanks again for the gift card. I’m enjoying an inspirational read by Anne Lamott thanks to you!
Hope you and yours have a happy thanksgiving!
Last but not least, I think a good Plimsoll is made for walking.
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Thanks for your support Coleen and I’m glad you’re enjoying a good read. I hope you and yours have a very happy Thanksgiving with a glad of sweet wine and some comfy plimsols.
Patricia
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Hey, great and powerful wine-o, what do you suggest for Thanksgiving dinner? I like red and am leaning toward Pinot Noir.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I’ve been thinking of you ever since your post about your mother. {{Hugs.}}
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Oh Pat you are so sweet.
I think Pinot Noir is a fine choice for Thanksgiving, or perhaps a Merlot. If you’ve got white lovers, try a Viognier – slightly chilled. It’s delish! And, here in our area anyway, pretty much anything red from 2008 is fantastic. Something in the air or soil that year that made the wine extra good.
Enjoy your family and feast!
Patricia
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