This Thanksgiving, Think Pink!

Thanksgiving, I contend, is the biggest wine pairing nightmare of the year.  There are so many flavors and textures on the table that it’s nearly impossible to find one outstanding wine that goes well with everything.  And given that many of the folks at our dinner table don’t drink alcohol, I find myself limited to only a bottle or two.  The problem would drive any hostess crazy.

Furthermore, we can’t forget that Thanksgiving isn’t about the wine anyway; it’s the food, among other bounties, for which we are giving thanks– lots and lots of it.  So the last thing that’s called for is a “trophy wine.”  All that’s wanted is something pleasant that won’t overwhelm the food and that won’t turn bitter or sour with all the flavors.  After mulling this over for years and after trying lots and lots of combinations, I’ve concluded – at least for this year – that pink is the answer.

Box Wine: Still a Long Way to Go

No doubt you’ve heard the same claims I have:  Box wine has come a long way since the horrible “Chablis” that Mom used to keep on the counter and pour over ice. 

Box wine got its start in Australia in the mid-1960s when Tom Angove invented the rather clever packaging.  A polyethylene bag with a plastic tap is placed inside a box for support.  The typical box holds the equivalent of four bottles of wine, though some hold up to 50 percent more than that.  Despite the large volume, the box wine package is considerably lighter than glass bottles.  One big advantage of this type of packaging is that the design of the bag and tap ensure that no oxygen gets into the bag after it is opened, which means that the wine lasts 4-6 weeks after opening – much longer than the typical bottle.

Box wine first became popular in the United States in the 1980s.  Though it was never synonymous with high quality, it is cheap and easy to store.  And say those who like it, it’s consistent.  You always know what to expect when you open the box. 

I have always resisted drinking box wine for two primary reasons:

Just Say No To Oxygen

If you’re like my family these days, you’re eating more leftovers.  It’s probably what we should have been doing all along, but better late than never.  As I prepared to dive into my third night of meatloaf recently, I thought about what might make it taste better – or at least what might help me forget I was eating the same thing again:  “Wine,” I decided, “but what?”  I glanced toward the kitchen counter next to the sink, and there I saw the answer--“counter cabernet” as my husband refers to it.

Something Different This Way Comes!

Shake up your routine
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Like most people, I get tired of the same old thing.  Much as I like a cool glass of white wine in summer, I occasionally get a little bored with chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and Riesling.  There must be more to life, I’ve concluded, so this summer, I’ve been making a special effort to try more unusual white varietals.  Fortunately, it’s getting easier and easier to find a lot of these wines – even in Central Oregon.  I’d like to recommend a few to you.

Typically in this column, I suggest specific wines from specific winemakers.  This time, however, I want you to learn about the varietal (or type of grape) that the wine is made from.  The idea is not necessarily to find the best of a particular varietal; it’s to find out how different these varietals taste from the usual chardonnay or sauvignon blanc that most people automatically offer up when you ask for “white”.  If this is successful, the next time you’re asked your preference you can give a really different answer!

Five Things You Think You Know About Wine

Myths about wine abound.  I recently thought about this when I attended a course offered by the international Wine & Spirits Education Trust.  As I was reminded (again) of all the erroneous information that’s out there related to wine, I excitedly relayed it all to my family and friends, and then it hit me: you, faithful readers, might benefit from the same information.  So here goes:  five things you might think you know about wine that really aren’t true:

How to Do Heart Healthy Wine

An acquaintance recently e-mailed me with a request.  She said she thought she remembered that I liked wine.  If so, she said, she needed my help:  “My doctor just told me to add some wine to my dinner, and I’m not sure what to do.  Can you please help me?”

As I responded to my friend, I thought about the fact that I’ve been asked about this subject many times over the years.  I think we’ve all heard about the so-called “French paradox,” the apparent contradiction between the fact that the French eat a lot of saturated fats and yet they have significantly lower rates of heart attack and cardiovascular disease than Americans.  Several scientists undertook research to determine why this was the case, and after much consideration, consumption of red wine emerged as the leading theory.  Although the French do not drink a lot more alcohol than we do, they drink markedly more red wine than we do. 

Since this story broke in the United States in a 60 Minutes piece in 1991, many more studies have been conducted.  Although the scientists involved and those who have reviewed the studies don’t all agree on everything, there are a few things that most agree upon.

Special Days, Special Wines: Think Pinot!

It’s getting cold outside again, and the days are growing shorter.  In most respects this is not a good thing (at least from my perspective);  however, there is one positive result – it’s time to start thinking about red wine again!  I generally find red wines too heavy for warm, sunny Central Oregon days. Because I love the intensity and complexity of red wines, there’s a reason to cheer as winter approaches.

As the fall gives way to winter, it makes sense that I think of transitional wines – those that flexibly straddle two seasons.  One of the best of these is pinot noir.

Bargain Wines—As Close As The Local Grocery

Talking about wine is one of my favorite pastimes.  Bargain-hunting is another passion, but what I really love is when I get to do both.

It is a myth that good wine costs a lot.  It is certainly easier to find spectacular wine for $30, but there are real stinkers in that price range, too. Meanwhile, real treasures may be on the next shelf over for half the price. To help you get started on your treasure hunt, let’s talk about what makes a bargain wine.

First, a bargain wine is simply one that tastes great for the money.  That means that the first step to finding a bargain is finding something that you like.  How?  Ask yourself some general questions about your preferences: Do you prefer red or white?  Sweet or dry?  Powerful or subtle?  Fruity or earthy? Do you want to taste herbs?  Do you want to taste spice?  There are no “right” answers.