Melinda Curtis writes the Harmony
Valley series of sweet romances for the Harlequin Heartwarming line as well as
independently published, hotter romances as Mel Curtis. Her latest release, Summer Kisses, is part of the Harmony Valley series and set in a small town
winery. Today she joins us to
discuss wine. You can learn more about Melinda/Mel and her books at her
website.
Wine Doesn’t Need to be
Intimidating
by Melinda Curtis
There are many things in life that intimidate me – modern car engines,
tax forms, computer viruses. But
not wine. Yes, I’m from
California. Yes, I worked at a
winery. Yes, I’ve earned a
certificate from the prestigious UC Davis wine appreciation program. But learning all the complexities is
like learning a foreign language – if you don’t use it, you lose it. I admit: I’ve forgotten more about wine than I’ve retained. And so, when people turn to me for
advice about what wine to order, I developed a bit of shorthand.
Do you ever drink wine or
spirits? If spirits, are you a
mixed drink or straight person? Do
you drink black coffee or lattes?
Do you drink full-sugar soda or diet? Orange juice, cranberry juice, or grapefruit juice? Prefer chocolate for dessert or fresh
fruit? Season your steak with
salt/pepper, a combination of dry seasonings, or a creamy sauce?
You don’t need answers to all the questions, just a starting point, a
hint, a clue. And you don’t need
to follow the “wine rules” (red with red meat, white with fish/poultry). That’s old school. My cheat sheet is below. My caveat: this is a system that works
for me. You might have different
preferences and that’s okay, too.
If I’m with people who don’t normally drink wine, I veer toward white
wine, usually something lighter, like a Sauvignon
Blanc. These wines –
especially the ones from New Zealand – are very soft and subtle and generally
please everyone. Sauvignon Blancs
from California tend to have a hint of grapefruit. If you’ve got full-sugar soda or orange/cranberry juice drinkers,
try a Riesling or a Moscato – although these aren’t what I’d
recommend drinking with your main course, as they’re rather sweet. If someone likes lattes or chocolate, a
“rich, full-bodied” Chardonnay would
be good (stay away from “oaky” Chards for this type of drinker). One warning about Chardonnays: they
come in more flavor variation than jelly beans – never assume if you like one
Chard, you’ll like another.
Finally, if you have a mixed bag of flavors being mentioned in your
group, try a white wine blend. These are usually lighter in body and
flavor, blended to please a broader spectrum of wine drinkers. Some have a hint of sweetness, some a
hint of brown spice or floral notes, so they aren’t boring.
If I’m with wine drinkers, I’ll veer toward red wine. Merlot
is something I choose for people who like creamy sauces and is safe for a mix
of wine appreciation levels (hard to screw up and not a wine with tons of
different flavors at affordable levels).
If people like black pepper and strong spices, I might choose a Syrah or Chianti. If chocolate
or lattes came up, I might choose a Pinot
Noir, but one from a drier climate (Oregon Pinots taste softer to me). If there were preferences for fruit for
dessert, I might choose a Zinfandel
or a Shiraz. I’ll choose a Cabernet Sauvignon if people like strong flavors (black coffee,
pepper, straight spirits) and there is red meat coming to the table (probably
the only wine type that I consider doesn’t go well with white meat or fish –
but that’s just me). Remember how
I compared Chards to jelly beans?
Same applies to Cabs – lots of styles and flavors, therefore harder to
pick one that pleases a variety of palates.
Wine is a lot like the different coffee drinks available at
Starbucks. You can get a plain,
but good, cup of coffee, add different tastes to that cup (shake some cinnamon
on top, add creamy whip, etc.), or have the coffee be a complement to heavier
flavors (chocolate, caramel, etc.).
It fits your mood and your taste buds. Wine does the same thing. Selecting a wine is a little
adventure and when you ask people for their preferences, they become vested in
that adventure with you (and therefore the adventure’s success isn’t all on
your shoulders). If you’re nervous
about making a decision, you can always ask for a taste of something to see if
you like it before you commit.
Have fun!
Summer Kisses
Rebecca MacKenzie's career as a caregiver for the elderly suited
her perfectly. Ease their suffering, hop back in the motor home and move on.
Caring without commitment. It was ideal for someone trying to outrun her
memories…and mistakes. Someone determined to stay detached. Flynn Harris,
her new patient's grandson, is weakening her resolve in every way. His
scrutiny, his suspicion—and worst of all, his kisses—are more than distracting.
They're dangerous. Because she's teetering on the edge of caring. And revealing
her secrets. And…staying.
1 comment:
My but you are an expert on wine, Mel. I used to love Merlot and Beaujolais Nouveau. Not anymore. Now I go with the lighter Zinfandel. My husband is the real expert, not me.
Post a Comment