A few weeks ago, SAQ La Cite offered a remarkable deal: spend over $50 and receive a free bottle of Hungarian Grand Cuvee Brut. If you’re a mere student, scoring a deal of liquor is the epitome of a bargain. To me, nothing says Celebrate Good Times, Come ON like a bottle of sparking wine. It is a beverage meant for sharing, it has fewer calories than other wines, and it goes well with finger foods and seafood (my faves). The SAQ deal was a double wine for me: a bottle of sparkling vino to keep in my fridge for the right occasion and an opportunity to buy a variety of new wines.
For most students (myself included), buying a good bottle of wine is challenging. Not only are we new to the wine-drinking scene, but specifics regarding grapes, vintages and climates are often lost on us. Marketers use cute bottle labels to entice young wine drinkers, even when the product is low quality. Luckily, my room mate Paula (who spent seven months studying in Paris and traveling France) is a bonafide wine drinker and has offered some tips for buying a good bottle. Read on:
Buy wine at the SAQ, not the Dep
SAQ sells wines from around the world with employees on hand to help you make a decision. Alternatively, the dep sells inferior wines at a tremendous markup. A low-grade dep wine that costs $10 can’t even compare to the $8 bottles at the SAQ. A variety of wines, from Cab Sauvignon to Merlot, can be found at the SAQ for under $10. Check out the sale wines at the front of the store or browse wines by region. Paula suggests that you buy two bottles of wine at a time and try both with a group of friends. Trying two wines will allow you to compare and contrast the flavours to determine what you like best. If you find a wine you like, look at the description on the back to see what flavours are used. Once you determine certain similarities, you have mastered the first step towards picking wines you are sure to enjoy.
Never stop trying new wines
Once you find a wine that strikes your fancy, it is easy to forget all others and keep going back. According to Paula, one should always have a go-to wine in a pinch, but continue trying new wines to expand your palette. There are two reasons for this: firstly, there are so many wines to try, you might find something you enjoy even more; secondly, the more wines you try, the more discriminating your palette will becoming, leading you to even better wines in the future.
Wine and Food
We all know that certain wines pair beautifully with certain foods. If you are planning on eating and drinking simultaneously, check out this chart to find a fitting wine. found at http://www.how-to-cook-gourmet.com/foodandwinepairingchart.html
Chardonnay – Shellfish, Sole/Halibut, Salmon/Tuna, Poultry, Mild cheese, cream based dips
Sauvignon Blanc – Dishes with cream sauce, Shellfish, Sole/Halibut, Poultry, Mild cheese, cream based dips
Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio – Shellfish, Sole/Halibut, Salmon/Tuna, Spicy food (whether beef, poultry, or fish), Poultry, Pork/Veal, Mild cheese, cream based dips
Riesling – Fruit/creamy desserts, Dishes with cream sauce, Shellfish, Sole/Halibut, Spicy food (whether beef, poultry or fish), Poultry, Mild cheese, cream based dips
Gewurztraminer Fruit/creamy desserts, Dishes with cream sauce, Sole/Halibut, Spicy food (whether beef, poultry, or fish), Poultry, Mild cheese, cream based dips
Chenin Blanc – Fruit/creamy desserts, Dishes with cream sauce, Shellfish, Sole/Halibut, Spicy food (whether beef, poultry, or fish), Poultry, Mild cheese, cream based dips
Viognier – Sole/Halibut, Salmon/Tuna, Poultry, Mild cheese, cream based dips
Champagne
Extra Dry: medium dry – Dishes with cream sauce, Shellfish, Sole/Halibut, Mild cheese, cream based dips
Brut: dry – Dishes with cream sauce, Shellfish, Sole/Halibut, Mild cheese, cream based dips
Demi Sec: slightly sweet – Fruit/Creamy desserts
Rose (typically Brut style) – Dishes with cream sauce, Shellfish, Sole/Halibut, Salmon/Tuna, Mild cheese, cream based dips
Blush Wines/Rose
White Zinfandel – Fruit/creamy desserts, Spicy food (whether beef, poultry, or fish), Poultry, Mild cheese, cream based dips
Port Wines – Chocolate, Fruit/creamy desserts, Strong chees
Red Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon – Chocolate, Game, Lamb/Duck, Beef, Strong cheese
Merlot – Game, Lamb/Duck, Beef, Strong cheese
Pinot Noir – Salmon/Tuna, Game, Lamb/Duck, Pork/Veal, Beef, Strong cheese
Syrah/Shiraz – Game, Lamb/Duck, Beef, Strong cheese
Zinfandel – Dishes with tomato sauce, Game, Lamb/Duck, Beef, Strong cheese
Sangiovese – Dishes with tomato sauce, Game, Lamb/Duck, Beef, Strong cheese
Barbera – Dishes with tomato sauce, Game, Lamb/Duck, Beef, Strong cheese
Gamay = Salmon/Tuna, Lamb/Duck, Pork/Veal, Beef
Tempranillo – Dishes with tomato sauce, Game, Lamb/Duck, Beef, Strong cheese
Malbec – Dishes with tomato sauce, Game, Lamb/Duck, Beef, Strong cheese
Carmenere – Dishes with tomato sauce, Game, Lamb/Duck, Beef, Strong cheese
Pinotage – Dishes with tomato sauce, Game, Lamb/Duck, Beef, Strong cheese
Salut!!!
Erica Adelson