Sales of non-alcoholic wines are increasing
Bubbles are no longer necessary to celebrate. Non-alcoholic drinks are the fastest growing sector of the alcohol market.
‘Tis the season for giving, receiving, eating and drinking – even though it is traditional food dishes are likely to be a staple in households around the world, a signature bottle of wine may be missing from family gatherings.
Annual, tasting wineWinemaking and education are welcomed as hobbies in American homes everywhere, although Californians consume the largest amount of wine each year, according to Statista.
While amateurs develop a newfound appreciation for the fermented fruit this season and open corks welcome a fruity, floral or woody aroma into a room, some sippers may tense up at the thought of a wine conversation or order.
“Wine can sometimes have a pretentious feel,” says Erik Elliott, state director of Heitz Cellar in the North Napa Valley, Californiatold Fox News Digital. “People are often attracted to what they know, and it limits opportunities for them.”
Elliott has been a master sommelier for 12 years with expertise blossoming in his hometown of Philadelphia, Aspen, Colorado and Napa Valley.
A master sommelier recommends telling a waiter, bartender or sommelier a preferred price before asking for a wine recommendation at a restaurant. (iStock)
Whether you are giving a host a gift bottle of wine in exchange for an invitation to an event or sharing a carafe with family and friends at a fancy restaurant, a simplistic and unapologetic approach to wine selection is how Elliott recommends someone tailor their palette to wine.
“I would start by drinking the classics first,” Elliott said.
He recommends bottles produced in Napa Valley, Chablis in France and Rioja in Spain, some of which date back centuries.
A master sommelier recommends wine from France, Italy and Napa Valley, California for a variety of food pairings. (iStock)
“You put down a bottle of wine on the table that everyone shares and it just has a certain seriousness to it,” Elliott said.
Order wine with confidence
“Sommeliers stand for service and hospitality,” Elliott said. “Don’t ever let anyone make you feel bad or tell you this is wine you should or shouldn’t drink.”
Wine is a category that has intimidated consumers before, so Elliott recommends striking up a conversation with a waiter, bartender or sommelier to open your mind to varieties and provide education.
“What grows together, goes together,” said a master sommelier – and pairing food with wine from the regions they come from is the best. (FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI/AFP via Getty Images)
If you can’t pronounce the name of a wine country or bottle, Elliott suggests making a joke.
“Sometimes taking wine less seriously can make people feel more comfortable in this space,” he said. “Choose a word you feel comfortable with. They will confirm it to you.’
He added: “Depending on the size of the wine list, use a bin number. To the left of it is a bin number. With that in mind, you can order wines very easily.”
Choose a preferred price
Whether you go out to eat at a highly recommended restaurant or as you walk past the wine selection at your local grocer, you’ll likely notice the prices before the flavors.
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“Don’t be afraid to tell someone, ‘This is the price I’m comfortable with, and this is a wine I recently enjoyed,’” Elliott said of ordering at a restaurant.
Pair pasta dishes with Italian wines, said a master sommelier. (iStock)
Elliott said bottle prices will start between $25 and $30, and if consumers are in this range, they can expect a lot of automation as part of the development of the wine, including the mechanization of agriculture and unconventional vineyard practices.
“That’s not a bad thing,” he said. “Everyone has a different journey to wine.”
Moving on to the next price point, Elliott said consumers should expect to spend $50-$100 for a bottle of craft wine, which is smaller in production and grows organically.
“Everyone has a different journey to wine.”
“It costs more to grow organically,” he says.
At $120-$250, wine lovers or connoisseurs should expect “incredible value” and “much more sight specificity” from a bottle in this price range, according to Elliott.
“What you get is much better and better for you as a consumer,” he said of wine at this market value. “They usually make people feel much better.”
Bottles of wine can cost less than $20 or even $250, depending on the region the wine comes from, how it is made and how artisanal it is. (iStock)
“Often these wines have significant age,” Elliott said.
“They come from known locations. It can open up a realm of flavor that a young wine hasn’t yet reached.”
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“Bartenders often know the wine list inside and out and have recommendations for food and wine pairings,” Elliott said.
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He recommends letting sommeliers know what you are order for dinner and ask for instructions from there.
“A lot of times you can see their eyes light up because those are the conversations we like to have,” Elliott said.
A master sommelier said there is nothing more fun than sharing a bottle of wine around a table with friends and family. (iStock)
For a small fillet, Elliott recommends a Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine, as the presence of fertility and ripeness will complement the texture of the beef.
“Wine isn’t made in ugly places,” Elliott said.
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If your gaze is stuck on a red pasta dish, Elliott recommends Italian wines, such as those from the Piedmont region.
“What grows together goes together,” Elliott said. ‘Italy is kind of the house of pasta and many Italian wines go well with it.”
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For those who I can’t pass up dessertElliott recommends pairing a chocolate treat with a Ruby Port wine.
“It will enhance the character of chocolate,” he said. “You can get incredible aged port for reasonable prices. You can often drink stuff from the ’60s and ’70s for $100-$200.”
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“I think that’s quite unique,” he added.
