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Page 2 of 3 A word about blush wines: I’ll have to confess that I never really drink them. Unfair as it may be, I tend to associate the words "blush" and "rosé" with that disgustingly sweet, overly-fruity white zinfandel that comes in a cardboard box or big jug (note: there’s nothing inherently wrong with a cheap wine, but a good-tasting wine will never, I repeat, NEVER, come with a spigot). What’s in a name? So you’ve been tossing around these words – "Cabernet Sauvignon", “Chianti," "Chardonnay" – but haven’t a clue as to what these really mean? Here’s the somewhat confusing thing about wine names: sometimes the name refers to the grape variety that produced the wine, other times the name refers to the region in which the wine was produced. In general, the European wines are named after the region (Bordeaux are from Bordeaux, Champagne is from Champagne, Rioja from Rioja, get the picture?) while the American and Australian wines tend to go by the grape variety (Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz). Both the grape variety and the climate in which the grapes were cultivated will make a big difference in how the wine tastes. Sweet or Dry? Full- versus Light-bodied? Wine terminology can be hopelessly vague. "Fat," "round," "charming," "plump" – these are words used to describe a beverage? Forget about memorizing the wine dictionary for now; as a beginner, there are two primary qualities upon which you’ll want to concentrate: sweet vs. dry, light versus full-bodied. Safe bets for the beginner Let me make this perfectly clear: you do NOT have to spend a lot of money to get a good-tasting wine. Certainly, you’d be smart to stay clear of anything that’s cheaper per ounce than juice, but there are some mighty yummy wines out there in the $7 to $10 range. You may want to start with the Californian and Australian wines: both regions have a reputation for producing delicious, affordable wines and moreover, you’ll actually be able to read the labels. Good reds to try: I’m currently completely enamored with Australian reds, particularly Shiraz. They’re very cheap, and very tasty. Try the Rosemount Estate Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz/Grenache blends, each of which generally costs a not-so-whopping $7 or so. The Beaujolais Nouveau (France) wines -- slightly sweet, light- bodied reds -- are also easy to like, and you can get a good bottle for less than $15. Chile and Argentina both produce some fine reds in the $10 or so price range. Good whites to try: You really can’t go wrong with a California Chardonnay in the $10 range. For something a little less pedestrian, however, try a Pinot Grigio (Italy).
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