Quit Whining, Here’s My Two Cents on Wine
I’m a big believer in the dining experience. Not just the food, but the atmosphere and feeling of dining out. One of the biggest parts of the dining experience is of course the wine list. And I feel that even today, this is the least accessible part of dining for many people.
Over the course of my cooking career, I got to work with some fantastic sommeliers and wine enthusiasts. These are people who have delved deep into the realm of wine and are honestly trying to take the mystique away from purchasing a bottle to go with dinner. Unfortunately, the rest of the wine world seems a bit slow to catch up, and wine has yet to really shed its elitist labeling.
Now, I’m no expert. I can’t offer any advice on a bottle-to-bottle basis. I’ve been told I have a very kitchen-centric view of wine, which suits me just fine. I basically know what wine would go well with what someone is eating. It lets me pick wines off of a list rather fearlessly, knowing my match will at least be in the ballpark.
I’d like to share some of these tips and tricks with you, my friends, if you’ll indulge me.
First thing to remember is: DON’T BE AFRAID! If you trust the kitchen, chances are you can trust the somm or wine/beverage director as well. They’re curating a collection that they’re proud of. They WANT to share it with you. Ask questions, tell your server what you like. They should be able to point you in the right direction. Never let the wine list be a source of fear.
Second, a bit of knowledge going in never hurt anyone. I learnt so much from reading What to Drink with What you Eat by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg (link not sponsored, it’s just a great book). It’s a terrific way to approach wine food-centrically, which is exactly the way I wanted to. For instance:
In a vacuum, riesling is the most food-friendly white wine. If you want a white, but aren’t sure how it’ll pair, go for a German riesling.
In that same vacuum, pinot noir is the most food-friendly red. If they’re coming from France, you’ll often see these as ‘Red Burgundy’ but a little label-reading will tell you if it’s mostly or totally pinot. If you want red, but don’t want to go wrong, a pinot noir will serve you well.
White Burgundy mostly refers to chardonnay, so no need to fear that label!
Cabernet sauvignon goes well with any red meat dish.
If you’re bringing wine to a picnic or potluck where anything and everything could be served, go with a rosé. They’re a great “crossover wine” and that DOES NOT mean that they’re red wine mixed with white wine, you heathens.
Eating pizza or red sauce? Break out the chianti. The acidity of tomato-based sauces plays perfectly off of an inexpensive bottle.
A gentle reminder that many of our favorite restaurants and stores have been offering wine since 2020, and that’s where I’d recommend you head for your fix. Or, find an online wine club dedicated to smaller, planet-minded producers. Oftentimes their lists are curated more thoughtfully than the LCBO, which is profit-first. You’ll find interesting wines from smaller producers that take better care of their land, as well as natural wines which you can actually taste as they age. The LCBO has no interest in a product that they can’t guarantee will taste the same from month to month, so these beautiful natural wines are left out in the cold when it comes to province-wide distribution.
I’m not here to harp on the LCBO, though. But I’d love it if you visited a place like Arlo, Fauna, Town/Citizen, Corner Peach, or Heartbreakers to get a wine with a real story behind it. The people curating these lists are some of the best in the business and will be able to lead you to a bottle you’ll never forget.
But Zach, I assume you’re crying, what are some of your favourite wines? Thank you so much for asking. Here’s a bottle I find myself going back to time and again -
Puszta Libre! This Austrian beauty is my red of choice, especially in warmer months. It goes with everything and is super drinkable. I’m always happy to see this bottle on a list. I like it so much, I’m gonna steal The Third’s IG post just so you can see the bottle without clicking on a link:
Wine can be a lifelong journey of discovery and appreciation. What are some of your favorite wines? And for those of you that don’t imbibe, what are some of your go-to alternatives? Leave me a list in the comments below! See you next time, folks!