Myth #1: If it’s not expensive, it’s not good (and similarly, if it IS expensive, then it must be good)
High-end wine is almost always better than cheaper bottles; this is true, but not exclusively so.
It is absolutely better than the bulk, often-on-sale-at-Kroger brands that may tempt you with low prices. Resist! Most of them (but not all; we can recommend some large producers that do a good job) are poorly produced, often contain additives and colorings, labeled in such a way as to make it difficult to know what’s really in them, and, well, just not that tasty. So in that regard, more expensive wine — which typically comes from quality producers with a history of carefully crafting their juice and thus elevating the price — is hands-down better.
But it is possible to find good deals on delicious bottles from great producers, if you know what to look for. Want Champagne but have a beer budget? Check out these recommendations for other bubblies at lower prices. And if you take some time to learn about wine regions and labels, you can spot a potentially great wine at Costco that’s sporting a can’t-miss price.
On the other hand, if you want to be a baller and spring for a high priced bottle, take our advice and talk to a sommelier or wine store rep first. Just because it has a hefty price tag doesn’t mean it will automatically be the kind of thing you’re looking for, and sometimes bottles that sell for high prices aren’t even meant to be drunk right away. It would be a shame to spend hundreds on a bottle of French Bordeaux that, if not allowed to age for some years, is so tannic you can’t swallow it.
Myth #2: If you shun big brands like Barefoot or Meiomi, you’re just a snob
What if I told you millions of bottles of mass-produced U.S. wines contain something called “Mega Purple,” an additive designed to make the juice look, well more purple. In fact, “Mega Purple is used by almost every low- to moderate-value wine producer (below $20US per 750 ml bottle) to help standardize the bottled product ensuring a more uniform product.”
Is that really what you want to drink? And if you answered “no,” does that make you a snob?
Many (but not all!) large wineries churn out crappy “Frankenwines” with additives that distort the natural flavors, colors and mouthfeel. They disguise lower quality juice and figure the people buying it won’t know the difference.
Well, now you do know the difference, and becoming a more discerning wine consumer just makes you wiser, not snobbish. But does that mean you can’t buy any of those big brands you see in the grocery aisle?
Actually, you can. We heartily endorse several large producers that make lovely wines at affordable prices. Like Kendall Jackson, for example, or — believe it or not — Kirkland brand wines from Costco.
So if you’re accustomed to drinking 19 Crimes or Barefoot, etc, let us suggest some new wines to try instead, which you should be able to find at a grocery store near you:
Instead of 19 Crimes Red Blend, drink Marrietta Old Vine Red (which is simply a better version of the same type of thing), look for Cotes du Rhone (a centuries-old red blend), or try a ripe and easy Spanish Garnacha.
Instead of Meiomi Chardonnay, drink Cambria, Heron, or even Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay. Or look to Argentina and try Catalpa or Catena. These have nice acid to counterbalance the richness inherent in Chardonnay.
Instead of Barefoot Pink Moscato, drink Moscato from where it originates, Italy. Asti to be exact. There are plenty of tasty and affordable ones out there that still have nice sweetness but with balance as well.
Instead of 14 Hands Sauvignon Blanc, try a Chilean Sauv Blanc like Casa Silva. The cool pacific ocean makes Chile ideal for this grape. Wanna feel fancy? Look for something from Tourraine in the Loire Valley of France. That is arguably where SB reaches its zenith but values can still be had.
Instead of Dark Horse Pinot, drink… OK, so this is a tough one. In short, most of these very ripe “Pinots” don’t represent what Pinot is supposed to be about. If you like Dark Horse or Meiomi Pinot, you might actually really like ripe wines like what we recommended for the 19 Crimes. However, if you want to drink some tasty Pinot that is easy on the budget, try Underwood from Oregon (or any of the other wines that Union Wine Company makes).
Myth #3: Red wine should always be served at room temperature
Wine professionals will tell you that most regular folks (like me) serve red wine too warm, and white too cold.
So if you don’t have a wine fridge with multiple temperature zones, the rule of thumb that red wine shouldn’t be cooled is a fine one to follow. But the truth is, many reds show better with a little bit of chill. Lambrusco, for example, is a fun, fizzy red that is delicious straight from the fridge. Same with Beaujolais. But, honestly, nearly all reds will show more better if they’re served at about 60 degrees.
Storing your red wine in a regular fridge will most likely result in them cooling down way below their ideal serving temp, so we recommend popping your better-served-slightly-chilled reds into the refrigerator an hour or so before serving. That should be just enough time to lower the temp for optimal drinkability.
And while we’re on the subject, many whites, especially rich ones like Chardonnay, really prefer to be a bit warmer than refrigerator temp, so try to pull those out of the fridge a bit before serving and certainly eschew the ice bucket once you’ve opened it. In fact, make a point of recognizing how the taste and aroma evolves as it warms up a bit. Go ahead and drink that Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc nice and cold though.
Myth #4: You must drink red wine with red meat, white with chicken and fish
The old adage of drinking red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat and seafood is fairly reliable, but it oversimplifies things and threatens to leave out potentially lovely pairings.
Let’s quickly disabuse you of this very common misconception. Firstly, if all the bloggers tell you to drink Cabernet with your prime rib and you’re just not into it, choose something else. Champagne or sparkling wine, for example, goes with damn near everything. Seriously, if in doubt, choose a sparkling white or rosé, and I can almost guarantee you won’t go wrong.
Secondly, a great pairing is less about the color of the food and more about the flavor profiles. Take for example, the most popular dish at one of Charlie’s restaurants, the Lemongrass-grilled Hanger Steak. Between the somewhat sweet marinade and the cucumber salad and peanut sauce that come with it, it begs for a Riesling. Sure, a fruity red is also nice, but your classic tannic red (that is often considered a go-to with steak) just doesn’t show as well.
And his (and far too many somms to mention) absolute favorite for roasted chicken? Beaujolais. A red wine. See, the key element is the roasted part. If you took the breast from that same chicken and sautéed it with lemon and butter, we’d be thinking white wine. But the flavors produced when you roast that chicken lend themselves to a bouncier juice you can’t typically achieve in a glass of white.
Myth #5: White wine is not “serious” wine
Wanna spot the poser at the dinner party? It’s the guy who is waxing authoritative about wine but refuses to drink white. Now, don’t get me wrong, if you prefer red to white, by all means, drink red. Just don’t pretend that whites are somehow “novice” wines. Because many of the world’s most revered wines are whites and nearly every wine professional I know drinks at least as much white as red.
In fact, I recall a recent message board discussion amongst wine pros asking for their top three grapes. The vast majority of the grapes mentioned were white.
And, while we’re at it, there’s a ton of delicious rosés out there, so stop sleeping on them as well. Few wines are tastier on a hot summer day and plenty deserve year-round consideration.
So, fire open that bottle of white! There’s a very good chance Charlie’s doing the same right now.
Got any long-held wine beliefs that you think just might not be true? Shoot us a note and we may feature your myth in an upcoming post!