Illustration by Kim Rosen
The universe of wine is so vast that you can actually throw away all of the varietals you currently drink, start over, and never miss a beat. After all, there are more than 10,000 grapes varieties cultivated worldwide in every amalgamation of white, red, and rosé you can imagine.
The difficulty lies in the fear of trying new things. Do you think there’s no other wine in the world that tastes like your favorite Riesling or cabernet? If you said yes, I would recommend you crawl out from underneath that rock you’ve been living under—or at least lift the lid a little. Where to start without wasting precious time and money? Let me offer some parallel wines to consider.
Chardonnay
We both like chardonnay, but it’s not the only full-bodied white wine on the planet that is aged in oak and tastes creamy and buttery. Look at wines from Southern Italy for inspiration: Falanghina from the Campania region, for instance, or Fiano di Avellino from Sicily. You might also consider white wines from France’s Rhône Valley, where you can find Marsanne and Roussanne. If all else fails, try domestic wines from that grape that’s so hard to pronounce, Viognier (vee-own-yay).
Riesling
Like a little off-dry style of Riesling? Have no fear; Germany doesn’t hold the global rights to wines with a little sugar. Your new friends might include demi-sec Vouvray wines from France’s Loire Valley. Or sample wines from slightly farther east, in France’s Alsace region, where you’ll find some lightly sweet versions of pinot gris and muscat.
Cabernet
I often hear people say, “We only like to drink big cabernets.” No problem. After you get done shelling out money for the California stuff, take a look at some alternatives. Ever heard of Bordeaux? While some of the approximately 8,500 producers aren’t worth seeking out, the 2009 vintage includes midlevel wines for $30 to $40. It’s also worth looking toward other big red wine regions, including Jumilla, Priorat, and Toro in Spain—based on Monastrell, Grenache, and Tempranillo grapes, respectively. And don’t forget about our friends from down under; there are great values in this category coming from Australia.
As you explore, be sure to employ help from your local wine shop. Tell them what you like and, more important, what you don’t like. They’ll most likely be more than pleased to assist you. Just remember: Life is too short to drink that predictable glass of chardonnay every day.
