Sip Quips

There are few things in life better than getting a great deal, and what better to get a deal on than wine? I’m always trying to find ways to stretch our wine budget further, and stocking up for a sale is still one of the best ways I have found. Tomorrow we’ve got a trip planned to San Francisco purely for wine buying purposes. Yea, the sale is that good. 

So today I guess you could say I have been strategizing, because regardless of the size of your cellar – to have a well stocked cellar you need to buy to your tastes, make sure your selection of everyday drinking wine is seasonally appropriate, and always think about long-term aging.

I have checked over the cellar to take stock of what is there, because I knew that we needed more white wines, but really had no idea where the holes were in my red selection. As it turns out I have an inordinate amount of Syrah and Petit Syrah, which is really odd because they are definitely not my favorite varietals.

I also have a dreadfully small selection of Pinot Noirs. I think I might see where this overabundance of Syrah and lack of PInot may have stemmed from – all of the tasty Pinots have been consumed while the Syrahs sit and gather dust. That is what I get for not taking my own advice and buying to my tastes. While I typically like to have at least a couple of bottles of Syrah and Petit Syrah on hand for pairing purposes, I seem to have gone a little overboard, and bought more than we’re drinking. Note to self – cook more meals that will pair nicely with big reds, so I can put a dent in the three and a half cases I have gradually accumulated. 

Anyway, back to my strategizing, to buy seasonally I definitely should stay away from the big reds – as the hot weather will eventually come to the Bay Area (well that and the fact that I have been compulsively buying big red wines, but not drinking them) and gear more towards the lighter reds. I’m thinking some Pinot for sure, and Beaujolais, if they have it, Barbera, and perhaps some domestic Gamay – all of which are light enough for summer fare and delicious with a light chill. 

Perhaps most importantly for the buying seasonally rule is to buy more  whites and rosés! I finally got around to buying some rosés a few weeks ago, but in my excitement to have rosé to pair with our summer menu it seems we have gone through the few bottles that I purchased. As for the whites – I think it is important to have a broad range of white wines ready in your summer time cellar. Notably Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer should all be on hand in a summer foodie’s wine cellar. 

My shopping list

Sparkling wine (because there is never an occasion where bubbly is inappropriate)
Sauvignon Blanc (hopefully a little New Zealand, some CA, and a little French too!)
Viognier
Chenin Blanc
Riesling (I love the German stuff, but rarely want to spend the $$ for it, so I look to Australia for value)
Gewürztraminer
Chardonnay – but only bone dry, the oaky Chards are really not good with food
Sparkling (because you can never, and I do mean never, have too much bubbly)
Pinot Noir
Other light bodied reds suitable for summer fare

With today’s prep I think I’m ready to go. I would hate to end up buying even more Syrah – although, if I find some bottles suitable for aging….. nah, I think I need to steer clear of the Syrah until we drink some of what we have on hand. I will however keep an eye out for bargains on bottles to lay down for a while, because I love aged wine, and I hate paying too much for it. I’m so excited for tomorrow’s Mission: Wine Procurement, that I may not be able to sleep tonight. Perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s gonna be great!

It is always fun visiting friends and family, and not just because you’re vacationing, but visiting others forces you out of your proverbial box and maybe even gets you drinking from a box, as I recently found out myself. I know, I know, boxed wine has long had a bad reputation, but if you haven’t tried it lately, you should check out the boxed wines and your local liquor superstore.

Granted there is still a whole lot of non-descript plonk sold off in boxes, but a few innovative producers have realized the advantages of box packaging. Not only is the packaging cheaper than your traditional bottle, cork and label set-up (and we’re talking pennies on the dollar cheaper), but it is also a heck of a lot cheaper to transport as well, since your standard case of empty wine bottles weighs between 10-15 lbs. All of these savings add up and you are able to buy a nicer bottle (or box) of wine for less money.

Some of the first to begin selling quality wine in boxes were the producers of Vin de Pays D’Oc, including French Rabbit.  Even though in name it sounds a bit like sex toy, the wines are quite nice especially the Pinot Noir, and dare I say it, their Merlot. I’m not a big fan of the Chard, but that’s more of a stylistic preference than a quality issue.

Now you aren’t going to find wines you will want to cellar for years, but honestly most Americans age wine only as long as it takes to get from the liquor store to their dinner table, so check out boxed wine for your daily glass of vino. And honestly, if it streches a tight wine budget a touch further what is there to lose?

It seems that you can order everything from toilet paper to cars online these days so it is no wonder that there are a number of online retailers specializing in wine. But just like you wouldn’t buy toilet paper on ebay, not all online wine retailers are created equal.

First off, due to individuals state by state shipping laws, not everyone is able to order directly from wineries, or even from third party resellers. Yes, there was a Supreme Court case regarding direct shipping that received a lot of press back in 2005. In Granholm v. Heald the justices decided that it was unconstitutional to concurrently allow in-state wineries to ship directly to consumers, but not allow out-of-state wineries the same privilege. States responded by either allowing all wineries in and out-of-state to ship, or by not allowing any wineries to ship. All of the headache regarding liquor laws goes back to the 21st Amendment, the one that (thankfuly) ended prohibition, but also granted states the power to regulate and control alcoholic beverages within their boundaries. So, if you are fortunate enough to live in a state with relaxed liquor control, this blog’s for you. If not, sorry, you will have to continue to shop for your wine the old fashioned way. 

Back to the topic at hand – how do you know if you have a good online retailer. Buying directly from wineries is a good bet. Usually their websites are seriously lacking -the wine industry is not know for being technologically advanced, after all they are making wine roughly the same way it has always been done.  However they are happy to accommodate special shipping requests, because it means they are selling wine at full price without paying to staff a tasting room. 

If you want a broader selection, there are countless online retailers. Before purchasing from one of these stores take a close look at a couple of things.

1. Is it a wine auction? Are you buying wine from a retailer who has the wine in a temperature and humidity controlled warehouse, or an individuals private cellar?  Wine auctions can be a great source for rare or scarce wines, but they are not without risk. Be sure you only purchase from sellers who have stored the wines properly, and are willing to provide photos of label details and bottle fill level (too low indicates the bottle was stored improperly, leading to spoiled wine). Most wine auction sites have a seller rating – take note of it before you end up with a priceless bottle of vinegar.
2. Offer a variety of shipping methods. We all know how important temperature is in wine storage. Well what about the time that the wine spends in transit? Carriers do not have air conditioned trucks or warehouses, so ambient air temperature is going to be the temperature at which your wine is stored. Live in Phoenix? Your wine will spend hours in the summer heat before it arrives at your front door, another sure fire way to get a bad bottle. You should have the ability to select expedited service, albeit at a cost, or better yet have the option to hold your wine in their warehouse until the temperatures cool down. Many large retailers offer this option at no additional charge.
3. What days of the week will they ship wine? Again that pesky temperature problem – if you order wine on Friday, they should hold it until Monday, so that the wines are not sitting in an un-air-conditioned warehouse over the weekend.
4. Shop locally. There are several stores where you can make your purchase online, and then pick it up from the store. Not practical in every application, but it comes in handy when you don’t want to miss a sale, but can’t make it to the store right away.

Well, seeing as it is Valentine’s Day is tomorrow I figure it would just be irresponsible of me not to mention romantic wines to help you set the mood. Granted, I think Valentine’s Day is a contrived, Hallmark holiday and that you should try to show the people in your life how much you love and admire them on a daily basis not be forced to buy gifts once a year, but I’ll step off my soapbox and get to the recommendations.

What is more romantic than sparkling wine? Don’t just think of Champagne. There is really outstanding bubbly coming from all over. If you want extreme value may I suggest the Cristalino Cava from Spain. At around $6 you can pick up a few bottles, perhaps one for an aperitif, one with the meal and another for breakfast the next day. It drinks like an expensive bubbly, but without the price tag. Prosecco is also a great find for budget bubbly, look for Zardetto ($12) or Mionetto ($15). Domestically – Domain Chandon ($15) Blanc de Noir, it’s blushy pink color will look gorgeous on your Valentine’s table.

If you don’t share my bubble fetish then there is always Pinot Noir. If adjectives like soft, supple and silky don’t get you in the mood, I’m not sure how a you expect a bottle of wine to do the trick. If supple sounds sexy than try Gary Farrell ($38) Pinot from Russian River Valley, the Louis Jadot Bourgogne ($20), and the Edna Valley Pinot ($20). A little pricy, but nothing pleases the palate like a Pinot.

If you want a sweet treat but want to treat you wallet right as well look for wines from Ste Croix du Mont, an appellation next door to Sauternes but without the hefty price tag. They can be hard to find but they are worth the search. A perfect way to finish the meal without breaking the bank. 

I have to say that I both agree and disagree with Andrew Keen’s The Cult of the Amateur. Well, seeing as I have a blog, I can’t really support his ideals too terribly much, but I do believe that there is a grain of truth to his observations. Generally I like to get my news from reliable sources, folks who can really afford to do some in depth research and find the story. Thank goodness for BBC and NPR!

Outside of the news though, I am at odds with Mr. Keen. There is little difference between the record store clerk and an online music blogger, other than the fact that the record store clerk works retail. I typically don’t assume simply because someone works in an industry they know all there is to know about the industry. Hmm… I seem to recall a saying, something to the effect of “Fake it till you make it.” Perhaps employment doesn’t go hand in hand with expertise Mr. Keen.

When it comes to recommendations on purchases most of us turn to friends and family. But when it comes to wine, with so many selections out there folks feel that they need an expert to help them navigate the sea of wine. Hence we end up with the cult of the ratings. Now, the consumer trusts the opinion of Robert Parker more than his own tastes. Just because Parker likes it doesn’t mean than you have to like it. The expert has come to rule the world of wine, with consumers trusting the taste preference of these experts more than their own likes and dislikes. That to me is more twisted than reading a wine blog. 

Cult of the amateur or cult of ratings – which poses the greater evil? One gets people excited about wine and trying new regions and varietals. One makes people feel menial and unsophisticated if they do not like a recommended wine. Seems like a no brainer to me – bring on the amateur!

Buying wine is really easy and you can do it almost anywhere (at least you can in California, sorry to those of you who have bizarre blue laws). But just because you can buy wine anywhere doesn’t mean that you should. I am all in favor of taking advantage of wine sales wherever you can, it certainly helps me squeeze more out of my wine budget, but I also think it is essential to find a wine store with a knowledgeable staff.

It doesn’t have to be a wine only shop – there are a number of liquor stores with great wine departments. So next time you are at the liquor store don’t brush of the person who comes to ask if you need help. Ask them for a recommendation in your own wine language**. Don’t dress up your request with words you never use just to impress some guy in the wine aisle. Tell him exactly what you are looking for and see how he responds.

Ideally you should get a barrage of questions about your tastes. This will help him translate your wine language and figure out what you’re looking for. At this point he should provide several recommendations in several different price ranges. Pick up one of the recommended bottles and see what you think about it. Remember what you like about it and what you don’t, and tell them about it next time you shop for wine. You need to experiment and play around with lots of different wines to find your taste (I know it sounds like arduous labor, doesn’t it?).

The folks in the wine aisle are your allies in this search. It is their business to know about all of the wines that they sell and take advantage of their knowledge, but you can only get this level of knowledge in a good wine shop. Use the big box stores to stock up on wines that you know and love, and go to your new favorite wine store to find the wines that you love. Yeah, the wines might be a little more expensive there, but remember you are paying for knowledge, expertise, and someone else to taste through all of the wines to find the right one for you.

**I really do mean your own wine language. Talk about the wines as you think of them whether it be with colors, fruits, vegetables, similes, poetry or metaphors. It is up to the wine shop to translate. If they don’t understand your language – find a different wine shop.