“wine is constant proof that god loves us and loves to see us happy.” -benjamin franklin
i somehow got in to a wine class when i was 19 and i’ve been in love ever since. while my friends were drinking skol and diet, i was cashing bottles of syrah. normal? not exactly. enjoyable? most definitely. i now find nothing more fulfilling than a home-cooked meal and a glass (or 4) of wine.
sure, i’m a sucker for a vodka/club soda when i’m hanging out at bars, but given the option, i would totally choose wine. not only does it taste better, it’s better for you. red wine is a super-bevey for your heart! it contains resveratrol, a nonflavonoid, that has been shown to prevent arteries from being clogged by fatty deposits. it also helps to reduce bad, LDL cholesterol. who doesn’t like an adult beverage that not only makes you feel all warm & toasty but keeps your ticker tocking?
i get it though, wine can be a little intimidating. what with all the pretentious swirling and sniffing and spitting and the fact that i need to liquidate my assets to afford a yearly subscription to wine spectator. but that’s not really what wine is all about! there are bottles of pinot for $10 that taste like a dream and bottles of cabernet for $150 that taste like dog shit. it’s all about personal preference and you just have to dive in to find out what you like! below are a few of me and the fiance’s favorites to get you started:
whites
estancia chardonnay: you can find it at your local grocery store and it’s not too expensive. convenience and price all in one package! try it with lemon chicken, the oakiness of the wine balances the citrus of the chicken perfectly!
domaine du pouy: made from the some of the same grapes as cognac, this French white table wine is perfectly sweet and tart at the same time. it’s super refreshing on a summer day, but the best part about it? it’s only $10-$11 a bottle in stores and even cheaper here!
brancott sauvignon blanc: i’m so mad that my favorite casual dinner spot just took this baby off of their wine list! this sauv blanc is a little bit dry, insanely citrusy, and tastes just like licking a wet stone (trust me, just drink it.) this wine is great with sushi or basically any other Asian cuisine. you can find it at your local binny’s if you live in Chicago or get it here (whenever it gets back in stock. it’s usually cheaper than this, too, so feel free to shop around.)
pierre boniface, vin de savoie apremont: this is the perfect dinner/holiday party wine because everyone that drinks it, loves it. it’s a little sweet, a little tart, a little effervescent, and a little citrusy all in one. plus, it pairs perfectly with almost everything, which is good, because the name alone makes you want a baguette and some brie! if you’re local, we’ve always had luck finding this wine at the cork or tannins, but if you’re not in the Chicago-area you an buy it for cheap here.
other whites totally worth trying: babich, seifried, monkey bay, or kim crawford sauvignon blanc. cono sur viognier. dr. loosen riesling.
reds
wine by joe pinot noir: best. wine. ever. seriously, if you told me i could have one wine for the rest of my life, wine by joe pinot would be IT. it’s light and fruity with just enough dryness and tannins. drink it with any food or just have a glass by itself. pinots are typically pretty expensive, but this one is a good deal at about $18.99 a bottle. we buy our wine by joe at whole foods market.
e. guigal cotes du rhone rouge: this syrah/grenache blend is another drink-with-everything type of wine, and at between $10-$14 a bottle you can do a lot of experimental pairings without breaking the bank. again, this one is pretty fruity (raspberries & strawberries, especially) but dry enough to stand-up to a steak. i’ve found this little gem all of over the place: at binny’s, at whole foods, and at a boutiquey places like taste in rogers park. if you can’t find it around you, you can always buy it here.
a to z pinot noir: this pinot is similar to wine by joe but a little more earthy (trust me, once you start drinking wine, you start using these weird taste profile words,) and a bit more blackberry. i just love, love, love pinot noirs! this one will set you back about $13-$17 a bottle and can be found at whole foods or here.
neil joubert pinotage: we haven’t drank this one in a while, so i can’t really comment on the taste profile. all i know is that we went a solid three months buying this pinotage on a weekly basis before we moved away from the wine store that sold it. it should be noted that South African wines have a very unique flavor that takes some getting used-to. there’s no better way to describe it than: burnt rubber. but i don’t want to discourage you from trying this wine! it’s relatively hard to find, i know taste in rogers park has it, but you can also get it here.
anything by chateauneuf du pape: they’re all pretty pricey, bet well worth it. some of the most delicious wines on the planet! save those dolla bills and treat yourself.
other reds totally worth trying: piegaia chianti. dogajolo tuscano. beaujolais uncle jean. barefoot pinot noir. chateau bellegrave pauillac bourdeaux blend.
drink up, bitches!
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