Serious Grape: A Wine Survival Guide for Fall
Every other week, Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 joins us to talk some Serious Grape. Here's the latest.
Is it just me or is everyone suffering from the early fall crazies?
The Labor Day holiday is looming ahead of us. Kids need back-to-school supplies and rides to and from soccer, ballet, and piano lessons (circle as appropriate). Then there's your boss, who returned from vacation full of new plans for office efficiency and greater productivity. It's enough to make the lazy days of summer seem all but a distant memory.
Here's my wine survival tip for late summer and early fall: buy a mixed case of wine now, because things will only get more hectic.
Why Buy a Mixed Case?
Having a mixed case in your house is like having a little nest egg for a rainy day. Even better, most merchants will give you a discount of 10 to 15 percent off when you buy a case of wine—so it makes good financial sense, too.
When you buy your mixed case, I'd suggest visiting a wine merchant that you trust, or one that's been recommended to you by friends. Such a store will have an educated staff able to suggest specific wines fitting both your budget and the general categories I've outlined below.
Two Bottles of Riesling
Perfect with any kind of Asian takeout, Riesling is one of the world's most misunderstood and under-appreciated grapes. Rieslings tend to be lower in alcohol, are wonderfully aromatic, and can range in style from dry to slightly sweet. Excellent Rieslings from the United States and Germany range between $10 and $20. I'd head for the dry or off-dry bottles with their crisp apple and citrus flavors. Keep them in the fridge, and when you pick up some Kung Pao chicken or beef panang curry, you'll know a cool bottle of wine awaits at home—a perfect complement to dinner.
Two Bottles of Unoaked Chardonnay
Many of us resort to roast chickens from the supermarket for quick dinners. The ideal pairing for such a meal is unoaked Chardonnay. Chardonnay's buttered apple flavors bring out the best in the bird. Now that many winemakers are no longer using toasted oak barrels in favor of stainless steel aging, Chardonnays are less expensive and more food-friendly. Good unoaked Chardonnays are produced in many parts of the world, including Australia, the U.S., and France. Expect to pay around $15 to $20 for a good bottle.
Two Bottles of Sparkling Wine
Why we don't drink sparkling wine more regularly in this country is a complete mystery to me. It's versatile, affordable, and can turn a tuna sandwich into a festive event. Ask your wine merchant to select a Spanish and an Italian sparkling wine for you. Use one bottle as an excuse to invite friends to weekend brunch, and keep the other one for a celebratory night. Neither should cost more than $15, plus there are some very good Spanish sparklers for under $10.
Three Bottles of Sicilian Red Wine
Sicily is the best place to find Italian red wine bargains. Wines from this region are juicy, flavorful, and the ideal mate for pizza, pasta, and burgers. The most common Sicilian reds include Nero d'Avola and Nerello Mascalese, two zesty grapes that produce full-flavored, fruit-forward wines with nuances of leather and flowers. Expect to pay as little as $8 and as much as $20 for a bottle, depending on the reputation of the producer. But I have never spent more than $15 for a Sicilian red—and I've never been disappointed.
Three Bottles of Beaujolais
I'm not talking about the nouveau stuff released in November, fresh from the wine press. I'm talking about real Beaujolais wine, made from Gamay grapes and sold with some age to them. Gamay is the poor man's Pinot Noir. It has the same silky texture, fresh cherry-berry flavors, and earth aromas. But at around $8 to $15 a bottle, for wine made by excellent producers, it's much more affordable. Gamay grapes produce wine that's lower in alcohol and lower in body than most reds. Often served slightly chilled, they're perfect with grilled foods, stews, and cheese dishes which makes them the ideal red transition wine as we move from summer into fall.
And There You Have 12 Bottles
Even if you purchase wines at the higher end of the price spectrum that I've sketched, your mixed case of 12 bottles will cost you around $215 plus tax. And that's before the typical case discount is applied. The cash you shell out now will save you from a lot of aggravation and last-minute running around later when friends drop by for dinner or you're late getting home from work.
If you have a wine merchant that you recommend who gives mixed case discounts and good advice on purchases, feel free to share your tips with Serious Grape readers in the comments.
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15 Comments:
For affordable, every day sparkling wines, check out the Crémant de Bordeaux wines. They are way better than Spanish and Italian sparklers, for the same prices.
simon at 12:05PM on 08/29/08
Simon, do you mean Cremant de Bourgogne? If so, are you thinking of the same one I'm thinking of, at Trader Joe's,with the yellow/orange label for about $9? If so, you're right--that's a great bottle to have if you want to sub out the Cava and/or Prosecco.
Deb Harkness at 12:23PM on 08/29/08
No, but yes... :) There are other regions in France that produce sparkling wines with the Crémant name. I've only had the Bordeaux ones, but there is also Crémant de Die, d'Alsace, and as you've mentioned, de Bourgogne. What's cool about them is that while they use the grapes specific to their regions, the vinification process is the true Méthode Champenoise. And you can get true vintage bottles for affordable prices. I have a 2005 which I got for $15.
simon at 12:36PM on 08/29/08
Simon, Cremant de Bordeaux is entirely new to me! Thanks for the tip, and I'll go on a hunt for said wine at the earliest opportunity. Sounds like a treat, and something I SHOULD know about.
Deb Harkness at 12:55PM on 08/29/08
Very happy to be of service. Likewise, I am thinking I should head over to Trader Joe's to see if I can find myself that C. de Bourgogne. Can't beat a $9 bottle of bubbly from France...
simon at 1:26PM on 08/29/08
Very nice post, but one question. You advise keeping the two bottles of Rieslings in the fridge. Wouldn't it be preferable to refrigerate or otherwise chill the wine 45 minutes to an hour before serving?
baboo at 2:02PM on 08/29/08
If you live in NH, where the state-run liquer stores are like the Big Rock Candy Mountain and located next to just about every grocery store, you can get a mixed case for a 10-15% discount, plust they often have 20% of their wines on specials or clearance, so you can save as much as 25%. I had a toga party with a wine fountain once and got a case with pinot noir (for the fountain) and reisling (for the non-red drinkers) for something like $80.
leeapeea at 2:30PM on 08/29/08
Baboo, I keep my whites that I'm going to drink in the next few months in the fridge--in part because I live in Southern California where is is hot and room temperature is often 86. 45 minutes in the fridge doesn't cool a wine down enough from 86. So instead I keep them in the fridge and then take them out of the fridge 20-30 minutes ahead of time and let them warm up a bit. Here it's easier to get a wine from 40 to 50 than it is to get a wine from 86 to 50! Some people say that this irrevocably "deadens" the wine's flavors but I've never found it to be the case, provided you let it warm up a bit.
But you are absolutely correct that you do not want to drink it ice cold. No wine (with the exceptions of Fino Sherry and NV sparklers) are at their best straight out of the fridge. Between 50 and 60 is usually my target.
Thanks for asking for that clarification.
Deb Harkness at 2:35PM on 08/29/08
I'd recommend the Cusamano Nero D'Avola. About $12 at my local liquor warehouse. Not sure if it tastes the way that nero d'avola is "supposed" to. But I like it very much anyway!
Nellbie at 2:39PM on 08/29/08
Nellbie, that Cusamano's a great wine--I like it, too--and thanks for leaving the name of a particular wine that you like here in the comments. Thanks, too, for the news that even the State of New Hampshire gives case discounts, Leeapeea.
Deb Harkness at 2:55PM on 08/29/08
Baboo, I think one of the main concerns with keeping wine in the fridge is also the fear of drying out the cork. This will only happen after a long time, and only if you store the bottle upright. Many producers are now using twist off caps for wines such as Rieslings instead of corks nowadays, so this is no longer something to worry about.
simon at 2:59PM on 08/29/08
Thanks, Deb and Simon.
baboo at 4:15PM on 08/29/08
For Nero D'Avola my top pick is Terre Di Sole Apalos 2004. The Cusamano pales in comparison, Giveit a whirl if you can find it. Gloriosos in Milwaukee is where I found it.
dasmueller at 12:22AM on 08/30/08
I've never seen that bottle in LA, dasmueller. Wish I lived in Milwaukee! Will see if I can find it online. Thanks for the tip.
Deb Harkness at 1:16PM on 08/31/08
I am by no means a pro, but the Terre seems to be a fuller less biting wine than the Cusamano. It may seem a bit alcholic but it is much rounder in the mouth to me. It was a totally new wine experience to me.
I thoroughly enjoy picking up the odd bottle of something different when I see it and it appears to be good. Have been to Sonoma several times and enjoy visiting wineries there. My experimenting led us to visit the Amador area this past spring and while the quality varied greatly it was a most interesting trip with soome nice finds. There are many small producers some of which are using grapes you do not normally hear about.
dasmueller at 10:06PM on 09/05/08