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Be Better Guys' Guide to Wine: Introduction |
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Though we worked in restaurants and bars for years, we were still pretty intimidated by wine. As we got a bit older we wanted something to complement a meal that was richer than beer, but was a little gentler than straight bourbon, so wine became the obvious choice. We figured that to be a well-rounded guy appealing to women and our co-workers (particularly those who were women), this was an area in which we needed to become educated. So in addition to our on-the-job training in restaurants and bars, we took some wine classes, subscribed to a few magazines, asked a ton of questions at our favorite wine shops, and drank a lot of wine (remember, 4 aspirin and a big glass of water before bed, fella). And we found out that wine isn’t that complex, it just needs someone to break it down simply. Hi. We’re here to get you through a restaurant wine list or out of wine shop with a good bottle of wine.
Now, there’s some memorization involved here. But if you can remember Donovan McNabb’s quarterback rating for the past five years or the different features of those 52" TVs you’re comparing, you can remember some of this, too. Start with a couple of reds and whites from the grape varieties listed on the following pages. Buy a few inexpensive ones and try them out. Compare reds to reds and whites to whites, by taste, weight, color, and smell. You don’t have to take notes, just try a couple bottles at a time and after a while you’ll begin to remember, provided you don’t pass out beneath the couch cushions.
Typically red grapes age better than whites, and of these, the heavier reds tend to have more staying power than lighter ones.
The Goods- Wine corkscrew or opener
- Wine glasses
- A towel or napkin, in case of spills or drips
- A decanter*
*=optional item
The wine opener is the most important of these. It should set you back no more than $20. It can be hand-held, it doesn’t have to anchor to a countertop, but it needs to be sturdy. Next, get a set of four glasses — eight is better because you will break some. There are multiple types of wine glasses, which we will get into at another time. Finally, you may want to get a decanter. This is a glass pitcher of sorts that you pour red wines into prior to serving to give the wine some air (aerate), releasing more of the wine’s flavor. Not critical but it will come in handy as you expand your wine experience.
Early on, we thought, "Why buy an expensive wine opener that we’ll either lose or get stolen?" Wrong. There is a sinking feeling you get standing at a table of diners watching you try to finesse the cork from the bottle wedged between your thighs with that third borrowed wine opener. After many broken corks and busted wine openers, we learned that a man is only as good as his tools.
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5 Ways to Be a Better Guy |
It’s not your Momma’s job anymore. Or your girlfriend’s. Make your own damn bed every day. Try making a new mixed drink every month. Throw a party and make the guests bring the booze! Take off your hat when inside (except football Sundays). Especially on a date, Sparky. Put shoe inserts in your shoes. It makes them a lot more comfortable to walk in. Buy a loofah pad and scrub your body once a week. It keeps the body acne at bay.
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