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New and Improved Girlfriend's Wine Club

• Only $10 in 2010 for a wine flight.
• Relaxed start.
• Come in on club day at any time between 5-6:30.
• No reservations required (If you have a group of 6 or more, reservations are suggested.)
• 1/2 Price appetizers from 5-6:30 for GWC members.
• Special prize for perfect attendance Jan.-Nov

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Wine 101

Learning about wine doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it can be down right fun.  I think the easiest place to start is by experimenting with wines of the same grape type. For example, some common grapes found on wine lists in the United States would be Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

A good learning experience would go something like this:

• Select a group of friends-no more than 5 or 6
• Buy 3-5 bottles of different wine of the same grape variety and locale. For example, choose 3-5 Cabernets from California. You will get 8-10 “mini-pours” from each bottle.
• Have breads, crackers and a small variety of cheeses on hand as well as some water. Some say a sparkling water will clear the palate best.
• Open and taste each bottle one at a time.
• Discuss and enjoy! Or Enjoy and discuss!
• Once you’ve enjoyed one grape type, move on to another at your next get together. Then begin comparing the same grapes grown in different regions of the world. They will all be uniquely different. Finally, explore wines made from grapes that you know nothing about.
• A note on tasting: People have different modes of tasting. There is no right way, so feel free to develop your own. Here are a few ways people describe the way they like to taste wine:
• Drink in a small amount and hold in the mouth for 20 seconds or so.
• Swish around in the mouth.
• Suck air over the surface of the wine in the mouth.
• Stick the tongue into the glass and hold it there a few seconds. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend this one in public.
• Think about flavors you are sensing as you let the wine roll off your tongue.

Keep in mind that people have different tastes and may not have the same tasting notes for the same wine. It’s also good to know that certain flavor profiles will be found in certain wines. You will not find “grapefruit” flavors in a Cabernet Sauvignon, for instance. However, “grapefruit” notes are often found in Sauvignon Blanc.

10 “Pairing Rules” Tips

In wine pairing, the thing to remember is you don’t want the food to overwhelm the wine or the wine to overwhelm the food.

• Traditional-White wine w/ fish. Red wine w/ meat.
• Mirror-Body, texture, flavors. Light bodied foods like salads go best with light (usually white wines).
• Contrast-spicy foods-tend to pair best w/ slightly sweet wines.
• Sauce-a buttery sauce would match well with a buttery chardonnay.
• Region-Italian wines tend to go well with Italian foods and so on. What grows together, goes together.
• Acidic-Lemon or vinegary foods pair best with acidic wines like a crisp New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Add salt to your dish if you need to lower the acidic taste if your wine is more alkaline.
• Occasion-The backyard bbq may not lend itself to a pretentious cabernet even if it pairs well with the entrée. A lighter fruitier shiraz might be a better choice.
• Courses-A lighter salad with vinaigrette dressing will require a different wine than a T-bone steak. Consider more than one wine offering for a dinner. Dessert wine should be as sweet or sweeter than the dessert.
• Ask an “expert”-Many fine restaurants carry specific wines because they are good pairings with the food they offer. Some restaurants will allow you to taste a “by the glass” wine before purchasing.           
• Forget the rules-experiment!

What To Have In My Wine Cellar 

Some people prefer to drink the same wine regardless of the kind of food served. Others enjoy to experiment with different pairings. One rule of thumb is that you will be able to serve about 5 glasses of wine per bottle. For example, if you are hosting a dinner party of 8 with 3 food courses, you would want 2 bottles per course. You may also like to have a couple of bottles for the aperitif wine served as guests arrive. Offering too much more beyond that and you may want to provide taxi service to take your guests home.

Authors Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page in their book,What To Drink With What You Eat, suggest you should keep a stock of these 12 wines types in your cellar or wine fridge so that you can pair any dish you serve with a complimentary wine.

1. German Riesling
2. Pinot Noir/Red Burgandy
3. Chardonnay/White Burgandy
4. Champagne/Sparkling Wine
5. Cabernet Sauvignon
6. Shiraz/Syrah/Sirah
7. Rose
8. Gewurztraminer
9. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
10. Chianti
11. Sherry
12. Moscato D’Asti