05.25.06

Every Day Wines

Posted in Wine at 8:20 pm by spryken

Originally posted on WineWiki, 01/30/2006

What makes a wine into an “every day� wine? Is it price, drinkability, quality (or lack of) or is it the ability to go with lots of different foods? I don’t know. Perhaps it is a combination of all these traits.

Here are some of my criteria for an “every day� wine.

1. Price - My current price point for an “every day� wine is under $10/bottle. I enjoy searching for bargains.
2. Drinkability - Is always a top concern. A bottle of wine for $2/bottle that tastes like swill is the same as a bottle for $100 that tastes like swill. I won’t drink either one.
3. Quality - This goes right along with Drinkability. Besides being drinkable, I like my wines to have some character, some depth of flavor. Just because a wine is drinkable doesn’t mean it is good.
4. Flexibility - Because I don’t eat the same thing every day, I want a wine that is able to adapt to a variety of foods. Of course, I like to have some variety in my “every day� wines too.

My Every Day Wines

I’m not going to mention any by name; instead, I’ll talk about varieties and types.

For an every day red, I usually go with something a little fruity. Maybe a Pinot Noir or a Shiraz. Pinots go well with a large variety of foods and can be enjoyed alone. The Shiraz goes well with red meats and spicy foods, which I really like. (Some time I’ll have to tell you about my Habenero Vodka.) I’m not talking about the really big Shirazes. The big ones wouldn’t meet my price criteria. Of course, they aren’t as flexible either. I’m not a fan of Merlot, at least not the run of the mill Merlots. I have had some excellent Merlot. And I usually describe them as “This doesn’t taste like a Merlot�. Most of the Merlot I have tried in my every day price range, I didn’t like.

For an every day white, I usually go with a Pinot Grigio or other Italian white. They are reasonably priced and go with a variety of foods. I also like Sauvinon Blanc, its typical crispness is great with grilled foods. It is also good alone. I don’t usually like the Chardonnay at this price. It seems to be too “oaky� for me. I’m not a fan of that big buttery taste.

Of course, as usual, this is just my opinion.

Ken - Drink what you like and like what you drink!

Permalink