Wine is one thing that is more toasted and less drunk. Fortunately drunk is the last thing most people associate with wine drinking. So, in a way, I guess wine does manage to carve itself a neat little niche.
But the problem is that the niche accommodates only that many, or that few. Wine somehow seems to ward off more than it attracts. And it isn?t half as bad a drink as most people imagine it to be. Frankly, it is a wonderful drink. I wouldn?t compare it to whisky or vodka for they all have their wondrous place on my palate, but I will say this, a lot less effort will help you appreciate wine than any other beverage you can think of.
Let the new year?s resolution, then let it be one to try wines. Go out to some nice hotel and order a glass. Avoid restaurants because most of them try to get away by serving cheap Indian plonk as glass offerings and that is not a good introduction to wines.
My two main problems with Indian wines are (A) quality and (B) consistency. Not only are they not well-made enough to merit consumption, they tend to vary (even at such low levels of quality) from bottle to bottle. As a result, for someone trying to gauge the distinct characteristics of a wine such as aromas and tastes, it is quite like aiming at a moving target.
The other thing with wine that makes it hoity-toity is the notion that it is more ritual and less fun. If we all at around waiting for the perfect Japanese tea ceremony I doubt we would ever manage to get back to work from our tea breaks. Think of it this way, a wine is nothing more than a beverage and it should not be viewed differently if it comes out of a dispensing machine rather than a glass decanter. In other words, we must learn to alienate our sensibilities to judge a wine for its taste rather than its packaging.
This year, if you must resolve, resolve to drink wine without the fuss. Drink wine to enjoy and to share a joy rather than to throw our knowledgeable weight around.
The writer is a sommelier
Get started
To help you get started, here is a modest list of wines that you could look out for in the market.
Jacob?s Creek Sparkling It hails from Australia and it can look beyond the brand, it remains the most value-for-money sparkling wine in the market.
Michel Laroche Chardonnay A great wine producer from Chablis in France decided to make a more affordable wine in the south of France. The result is this little number.
Malambo White This wine from Argentina now sports a revamped look (label et al) and also, if I am not mistaken, a new blend. The taste is pleasing and acceptable and definitely affordable.
Torres Gran Sangre de Toro This classic Bull?s Blood from Spain has been around for ages and most of us have drunk it unsuspectingly at all sorts of banquets. It is not a great wine but it is definitely a good wine. Once again, the soft pressure it puts on our pockets can never be too appreciated.
Blue Nun Riesling Don?t scoff just because it is a Blue Nun. A hint sweet, low on alcohol, tad fizzy. The wine is surely worthy of a sip. For the uninitiated it is a good point of start. For the snobs, it is a good point to learn humility.