It's always the one you least suspect... My wife and I moved to New york a few years ago and her first introduction to my college buddies was the Hoboken St. Patrick's Day Parade. Not exactly the most sober event on the East cost! Now I can't say it wasn't fantastic getting together, drinking green beer, and introducing my wife to all my rowdy friends, but I knew we were going to have to mix up the parties, and maybe next time without the plastic cups. Wouldn't you know it, but the craziest one of the bunch called up the next week and suggested that we start a wine club. Graduation. Marriage. Children. No longer putting up artwork in your apartment with blue sticky tack. These are all the signs that we are finally growing up. However, no milestone speaks louder about this transition than the wine club.
The premise was simple. We would pick a different couple's house every month, along with a different region for food and wine. Calfornia, Tuscany, Spain, maybe wines that start with the letter "P." The idea was to pick a theme that could easily incorporate some simply prepared snacks, and of course an incredible assortment of wines. Everyone would bring one bottle and since most people would show up with red, it never hurt to pick out an extra bottle of white. Trust me, there were never any complaints about popping an extra cork. Each of the bottles were wrapped in tin foil before hand to conceil the identity of the wine, and it's owner. Now anyone that thinks we should have decanted the wine first to let it breathe and also to eliminate bottle shape from our guessing, should just stop reading now. The whole point of the night was to get together with friends, drink some great wines, and maybe even learn a little bit about the different grapes and styles.
Whether you are the wine guy in your group or not it can be tricky to pick out that one perfect bottle. I want a wine that says something about the grape, but also about the savvy shopper that picked it out. When the foil comes off, you want to look proudly at the bottle of wine that you selected, and that you would buy again. The first rule in picking out a wine is do not buy the the most expensive bottle you can find. Trust me, you'll just be disappointed when a cheaper wine turns out to be the crowd favorite. Think about what you which bottle you would seriously buy for dinner that night. What you're looking for is a solid wine that speaks of the land where it came from. You want a wine that tastes like Italy. Yes, Italy has a taste and you want a wine that represents that style, culture, and tradition. Depending on the theme, don't always spring for the most obvious picks. I love to drink Chianti and Rioja, but there is a good chance that someone else in the group will bring a wine just like that. Look for a wine that may use the same grape and share similar characteristics. Instead of Chianti how about Carmignano, and besides Rioja, think Ribera del Duero. I always buy two bottles of the same wine because if you love the wine that evening, you'll want the second close at hand. Finally, talk to the people at the wine shop. They're not meant to intimidate you with boring wine knowledge but rather can steer you in the right direction so you don't feel lost.
The first wine of the night always starts the same. Pens and paper out. Nibbles pushed to the side so that everyone can concentrate. Everyone sips, swishes, and one person tries to cover up the wine they've dribbled on their shirt. Notes are furiously written down as if the aromas might disappear forever. This is hardly a competition but who's to say that there's not an element of sport, even in wine. You look proudly at your tasting note, contemplating a frame for the mantle or even submitting to a magazine. The first wine always starts off a little more seriously than intended but afterwards the evening tends to relax. All of a sudden you remember that there are delicious tapas on the table and the music seemlessly chimes in the background. The second wine is poured and the silence and intensity are replaced with laughter, excitement, and the sheer joy of wine. Notes are still taken but as the night progresses the handwriting becomes less and less legible. The beauty is that the perfect framed tasting form the start is just as brilliant as the final comment falling off the side of the page. In the end, the night is as much about getting to know your friends even better without a pint of beer, as it is getting acquainted with the wine in your glass.
Meritage. Does it refer to the collection of grapes used in a Bordeaux style wine from California, or is it the eclectic group of friends and tasters who enjoy the wine? Meritage was our name and although our wine backgrounds could not have been more different, we were perfectly balanced through our love of getting together, sharing stories, and drinking some great wines.
Wine Recommendations:
Spain
- Sardon de Duero, Rivola, Abadia Retuerta - Just south-west of Rioja, this small region has some great wines also based on the tempranillo grape. After the flavors of red berries, fresh herbs, smoke, and vanilla, nobody will be disappointed that it's not Rioja.
France
- Givry, Burgundy, Maison Roche de Bellene - Givry is one the southermost villages of Burgundy, located in the Cote Chalonaise. This pinot noir has the same silky texture as the classic Burgundies with notes of bright cherries, raspberries and rose petals.
Italy
- Barco Reale di Carmignani, Capezzana - This sangiovese has classic dried fruits and dried flowers with a spice of pepper, balsamic, and black olive. you will taste Italy!
Australia
- Amy's, Cabernet/Merlot/Cabernet Franc, Moss Wood - This new world Cabernet is a jem from the Margaret River in Western Australia. Intense notes of plums, currants, coffee, and chocolate. Whether the theme is cabs or kangaroos, this will fit the bill.
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