I can't tell you exactly what to try - because I have no idea what you've tried or haven't tried, but I can tell you about some of the things I'm glad I tried. Many times these were types of wines where I had read or heard negative wine snob comments. Instead of taking these negative comments as my default opinion, if something I read or heard piqued my interest, I would go ahead and give it a try. Not all experiments will be a success, but in my case quite a few were!
1. Pinotage. Pinotage is South Africa's signature red grape, which is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. In the past I had read how some examples of this wine when not handled properly by the winemaker can develop aromas of paint fumes or nail polish.
I first tried Pinotage as part of my International Sommelier Guild classes when we studied South Africa. The wine we tried was not nearly as horrible as I feared, and it actually had a distinctive aroma of ...Band-Aids. That's right - the smell of a freshly opened old school plastic Band Aid brand. Ever since I tried - it has forever been the "Band Aid" wine in my mind, and every one I've tried has been a good value, and typically have some very interesting aromas. My favorite wine - no way, but very interesting, and a conversation piece to serve to friends and let them try and name that aroma!
...Cuz Band Aid Stuck on Me!
A View of the "Flor" of a Barrel of Sherry
Sherry is also made with a Solera blending process involving mixing different vintages through a series of levels of barrels, where no barrels are ever fully emptied, just filled in from barrels above.
Solera Process
The flavors can be strong, and may take some getting used to as they are unique - but I have grown more fond of Sherry each time I have it.
A Traditional Way to Pour Sherry from a Cup Dipped in a Barrel
Don't be afraid to drink pink!
4. Chardonnay and Merlot. Another wine that became the go to for a ton of people was Chardonnay. In some wine circles, the acronym "ABC" stands for "Anything But Chardonnay" as wine snob shunned the grapes popularity. Chardonnays can be made in a big oak aged style, which is not my favorite, but can also be quite delicate and even made unoaked. Try Chablis or other white Burgundy from France for a different take on the grape. Looking for an ultimate wine pairing for Chardonnay? Try raw oysters and Chablis.
Got Oysters? Try Chablis
Also, in the red wine world the movie Sideways singlehandedly increased the sales of Pinot Noir and lowered the sales of Merlot. While the impacts were not earth shattering, they were definitely noticeable in the wine world. Pinot is awesome no doubt about it, but Merlot is also a great wine when you are looking for something a little less huge and tannic than a Cabernet Sauvignon. Also, Merlots can produce some great value wines from places like South America. In interviews after the movie, the director said there was no malice toward Merlot - it just made a great line for the movie.
Miles Says That Would be A Big Negative on the Whole Merlot Thing!
5. Orange Wine. When I first heard this term I figured I would try this right after Pineapple or Elderberry wine - which could be never. However, Orange wine has nothing to do with the fruit, and everything to do with a different way to make white wine. The term Orange wine refers to a white wine made more like a red wine, where the juice is left in contact with the grape's skins. Deeper color and deeper flavors are the result - and I like it!
Orange Wine, but not.. you know "Orange" Wine
The first one of these I tried was at a dinner at Grant Achatz's Next Restaurant in Chicago - and I absolutely loved it. I really need to check out my wine store and find some other versions of this to try.
6. French WIne. Remember the days of Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast when France was on the shit list for not going along with the invasion of Iraq? Well couple that with very hard to understand wine labels and a reputation for some of the snootiest people in the world - and who would want to try French wine? During the call for a boycott of French wine, some estimate it cost the French wine industry over $100 Million.
Remember?
My exposure to French wine came mostly at my International Sommelier Guild (ISG) classes - and some I liked and some not so much. French wines are typically very "old world" in style, that is made with fruit that is not as big and ripe and oaky as much of the "new world" wine. They can be different, but from the place where winemaking started to some degree, there is much to be missed if you bypass the world of French Wine. To this day, one of my most memorable wines was at my ISG class when we were studying Rhone wines. We tried a Crozes Hermitage which is a Syrah based wine from the northern Rhone valley. Syrah can develop some smokey attributes - but this particular bottle was unmistakably filled with the aroma of raw bacon. This was one of the moments when I realized I was starting to get the hang of the whole aroma identification thing. To me, a good French Rhone Syrah will always be called the "bacon wine."
Mmmm... Bacon
You Can Unscrew Without Getting Screwed!
8. Wine Club with a Waiting List. Sometimes the best things are worth waiting for - even for years or more. When you hear about a wine you want to try, have some at a friends house or restaurant, but it turns out to be a wine available only through a wine club with a waiting list - don't give up. I was on a waiting list for Kosta Browne and Kanzler Pinot Noir for around two years, but now my patience has paid off with a few wonderful bottles of each to enjoy every year. Another winery, Carlisle is one that I have been very excited to try for a long time. I literally found out two weeks ago that my number has come up - and my shipment will arrive in December! Wine clubs can be a great way to get wine at a discount, and in some cases are the only way to get anything from some limited production wineries.
The UPS Man is Like my Santa Claus!
9. Wines from Up and Coming Wine Regions. One of my latest interests are wines made from Mencia grapes in Bierzo, Spain. It is not a new wine region, but some great winemakers have become interested in the area - and now it is producing some really good wine. The great thing about trying wines from up and coming regions is that you don't have to pay the premium for a big name region, or be subjected to the law of supply and demand as bottles of wine from popular areas are bought up by those following the latest trend. It's easy - find out what people will be drinking in the next year or two - and drink it first! How do you find out about new regions... read, read, read! Wine Spectator, Wine and Spirits, wine blogs, articles - whatever you can find. If you find yourself reading several write-ups of the same area, it may be worth looking into.
Donde Está Bierzo? (Number 6)
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