Fermentation: Wines for Grads
Rodolfo Neirotti
Issue date: 5/4/06 Section: Entertainment
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I fear this may be our last column together, which does not make me sad, but does make you less wine savvy. As a last ditch effort to impart some wine knowledge, and as a graduation gift to my fellow students, I have decided to dedicate this precious space to "graduation wines."
Come June, many of us will have reasons to celebrate, and that means that at least once, someone else-with considerably better cash flows-will be paying for dinner. Not that you should be so ordinary as to take advantage of another's generosity, but this does perhaps present an opportunity to drink something a little nicer than the usual swill. Therefore, I will depart somewhat from my usually conservative recommendations.
If, however, you are one of those refined specimens who cannot tell the difference between $5 or $30 bottles, then I suggest you stay within the confines of that trusty yellow marsupial that plagues our wine stores like avian influenza. By the very same token, save your loved ones some time and money, and visit the local suburban Applebees, where's you'll be "eatin' good in the neighbourhood."
Not surprisingly, as a general rule, the best wine lists can be found at the nicer, more expensive restaurants. Sometimes you'll find a good, medium-priced restaurant with an able wine list, but this is not the norm. At the nicer restaurants, you usually have the option of consulting with the sommelier-or wine steward for those from West of the Mississippi. If you are lucky, he will actually know what he's talking about, and will adequately match your wines to your food all within your price limit and without making you feel like an idiot.
Unfortunately, truly talented sommeliers are rare. Therefore, let me make you feel like a simpleton in print, and then you can seem impressive in person.
Let me recommend two whites and two reds from the lists (where available) of the better restaurants in the vicinity of KSG that won't offend the palate or the pocketbook. As for your loud and awkward relatives from Kentucky, well, let them fumble their way through-they won't know the difference anyway. Just remember to drink heavily to make the evening bearable and memorable.
Come June, many of us will have reasons to celebrate, and that means that at least once, someone else-with considerably better cash flows-will be paying for dinner. Not that you should be so ordinary as to take advantage of another's generosity, but this does perhaps present an opportunity to drink something a little nicer than the usual swill. Therefore, I will depart somewhat from my usually conservative recommendations.
If, however, you are one of those refined specimens who cannot tell the difference between $5 or $30 bottles, then I suggest you stay within the confines of that trusty yellow marsupial that plagues our wine stores like avian influenza. By the very same token, save your loved ones some time and money, and visit the local suburban Applebees, where's you'll be "eatin' good in the neighbourhood."
Not surprisingly, as a general rule, the best wine lists can be found at the nicer, more expensive restaurants. Sometimes you'll find a good, medium-priced restaurant with an able wine list, but this is not the norm. At the nicer restaurants, you usually have the option of consulting with the sommelier-or wine steward for those from West of the Mississippi. If you are lucky, he will actually know what he's talking about, and will adequately match your wines to your food all within your price limit and without making you feel like an idiot.
Unfortunately, truly talented sommeliers are rare. Therefore, let me make you feel like a simpleton in print, and then you can seem impressive in person.
Let me recommend two whites and two reds from the lists (where available) of the better restaurants in the vicinity of KSG that won't offend the palate or the pocketbook. As for your loud and awkward relatives from Kentucky, well, let them fumble their way through-they won't know the difference anyway. Just remember to drink heavily to make the evening bearable and memorable.
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