Wine 101
December 5, 2006
With a little patience and a little practice, anyone can become a wine connoisseur
Riverside Wine and Imports in Kent stocks 1,800 wines by the bottle, such as this rack of reds. LESLIE CUSANO | DAILY KENT STATER
Credit: John Proppe
Big band music floats over the stereo system and drowns out the buzz of coolers overflowing with specialty beers.
Dim track lighting and a few low-light sconces illuminate the shelves stacked nearly floor to ceiling with bottles of wine.
At the bar, two older men sit drinking $5-per-glass beer and asking questions about this place.
This is the scene at Riverside Wine and Imports in Kent on a typical Saturday afternoon. On a weekend night, the place is packed. Still, it’s not a place you’re likely to find most Kent State students, says Riverside owner Robert Morson.
“We get more professional people or grad students,” he said. “More older, more the 30 and above crowd.”
Intimidation factor
Age isn’t the only thing that keeps young adults from enjoying wine, said Frank Erickson, who teaches several wine pairing and tasting courses at Kent State. It’s mostly intimidation.
In other cultures, he said, wine appreciation is taught from a young age, and children grow up with wine on the table at meals. That doesn’t happen here.
“You need to know a little before drinking wine,” he said. “Ours is not a wine-drinking culture. We make wine complicated.”
Another cultural factor is that our food and wine didn’t evolve together as it did in most other places, he said.
“We have a diversity of wines and a diversity of food,” he said. “So, you need to learn what goes together.”
It takes time
Everyone’s palate is different; what one person dislikes another may enjoy. But finding an enjoyable wine — one that fits taste and price range — is possible for those willing to take the time.
The best way to learn about wine is to taste a lot of wine, said Tony Carlucci, a wine consultant who teaches with Erickson. He suggests attending tastings and sampling wines side by side.
“Structured tasting is an important way to find out what you like,” Carlucci said. “For a whole lot less than you’d spend for a bottle, you can try five different chardonnays and have someone guide you as you taste it.”
In addition to occasional tasting events, Riverside also has 16 flights on its menu, including one specifically designed for beginners. A flight is a taste of three or four wines related by grape variety, region or style. The prices hover around $10 per flight.
The wine tasting courses taught by Erickson and Carlucci allow students to try several wines and visit wineries throughout the region.
“Students say they love it,” Erickson said. “It’s important to them, important to learn for business and professional life. A lot of students say, ‘I took the class because I heard it was fun, but I didn’t expect to learn so much.'”
Former students’ recommendations were what led Jeanette Nachman, fourth year special education major, to take the Wines of NE Ohio course.
“I didn’t have any experience with wine,” she said. “I was freaking out every time I had to take a sip. But now I realize it’s an acquired taste . I found out it’s not just something old people do.”
Going beyond the tasting
Reading about wine is another way to learn about it, Carlucci and Erickson suggested.
They recommended the book “Wine for Dummies,” which Carlucci said is authoritative but easy to understand. His Web site, www.ncweb.com/~wineclass, also has information available.
Aside from reading, Erickson suggested establishing a relationship with a local wine seller.
In Ohio, wine prices are set by the winery. The only difference between buying at a specialty store instead of a supermarket is the service. Several stores in the area, including Riverside, West Point Market in Akron and Heinen’s in Hudson, have staff on hand to help make wine purchase decisions.
“The best way to learn is to pick up a couple books and magazines, then connect with a local wine or bar establishment,” Morson said. “Someone trained professionally will be able to say, ‘If you like this, well you might like this .’
“We can find a wine you like, it’s all a matter of tasting and communicating.”
Contact editor Meranda Watling at [email protected].
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A Wine Primer Looking at a wine menu or staring at a row of shelves can be intimidating and overwhelming. Use this quick guide to save face when ordering and to help pick something you think you’d like. If you’re not sure you’ll like a wine, don’t spring for the expensive bottle. There are plenty of good wines in the $10 to $15 range. If new to wine, here’s a quick tip: Red wines tend to be dryer than white wines, which tend to run sweeter. A good wine for the beginners is a Riesling. “Riesling is the sweetest of white grapes,” said Robert Morson, owner of Riverside Wine and Imports. “It’s easiest to drink and easier on a beginner’s palate.” Red • Cabernet Sauvignon (cab • behr • NAY so • veen • YOHN), full bodied with rich fruit and excellent balance. • Pinot Noir (PEE • NOH nwah), medium bodied with berry fruitiness. • Merlot (mair • LOH), medium bodied, high acid with berry-like fruit flavors. • Chambourcin (SHAHM • bor • san) • Zinfandel (ZIN • fan • del) full bodied with blackberry and pepper notes and fruit character. White • Chardonnay (Shar • doe • nay), medium bodied, rich with smoky, vanilla or oak flavors. • Riesling (REEZ • ling), light bodied, slightly sweet, fruity. • Sauvignon Blanc (so • veen • YOHN BLAWN), light bodied, dry with grassy citrus notes. • Pinot Grigio (PEE • NOH GRE • je • oh), light bodied with gentle aroma. • Muscat (MOOS • kat), medium bodied, sweet desert wine. Source: Carlucci & Associates wine class handout |
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Pairing wine and food: “All wine tastes better with food,” says Frank Erickson, who teaches several wine courses at Kent State. The general rule for pairing is red wine goes with red meats, and white wine goes with poultry and seafood. Of course, this is a general guideline. Drink and decide what works for you. Here are a few specific suggestions for meals and wines to pair: • Pinot Noir, a red wine, with grilled red meats or roast chicken or duck. • Cabernet Sauvignon, a red wine, with roast beef, aged cheeses or chocolate desserts. • Chardonnay, a rich white wine, with grilled chicken or pasta in a creamy sauce. • Riesling, a white wine, with saut‚ed chicken, white fish or fresh fruit. Source: Carlucci & Associates wine class handout |
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Riverside Wine and Imports Location: 911 N. Mantua St. in Kent Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday (with no on-premise sales). What: Sells 1,800 wines and 400 beers to-go, and offers 90 wines by the glass, 350 bottled beers and 6 draft beers for on-site consumption. Web site: www.riverside-wine.com Riverside owner Robert Morson opened his store in 1996 as a carry-out specializing in fine wines and specialty beers. In 2004, he was able to obtain a license to sell wine and beer on premise. At that time, he began remodeling the store. Today, Morson says the store’s low-key ambiance is a huge crowd drawer. With low lighting, classic music and a smoke-free atmosphere, the seven bar stools and 48 seats in the store frequently remain crowded. “People who have an affinity for good wine and beer love to have a place they can come and look around,” he said. A steady stream of retail customers come and go throughout the day, buying alcohol to take home and sharing the latest gossip with Morson, whom many know simply as Bob. Currently, he’s also building a patio and deck behind the building. When it opens in May, the new patio, which will also be smoke free, will offer visitors a view of the Cuyahoga River and the frequent trains passing by. |
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Local Wineries The following wineries are all in Northeastern Ohio. Visiting wineries and sampling various wines is a good way to learn about the differences between the types and also find what works for you. • Viking Vineyards Hours: January through March: Thursday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and April through December: Tuesday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Location: 268 Old Forge Road in Brimfield Township Web site: www.vikingvineyards.com Phone: (330) 678-2080 • Candlelight Winery Hours: January through March, Wednesday and Thursday 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday noon to 11 p.m.; and April through December: Tuesday through Thursday noon to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday noon to 11 p.m. Location: 11325 Center St. in Garrettsville Web site: www.candlelightwinery.com Phone: (330) 527-4118 • Mastropiétro Winery Hours: Thursday 4 to 9 p.m., Friday, 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday 1 to 11 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Location: 14558 Ellsworth Road in Berlin Center Web site: www.mastropietrowinery.com Phone: (330) 547-2151 To find more Ohio wineries, visit www.OhioWines.org. |
