| TIPS FROM THE PROS |
Ayca Revaz , lead winemaker for Chloe Wine Collection , often chooses pinot noir for entertaining because it ’ s a versatile yet complex wine .
NAVIGATING THE WINE AISLE
With summer entertaining season coming up , you might find yourself wine shopping and struggling to figure out which bottles to choose for a gathering . It ’ s hard to know what will please everyone ; you also don ’ t want to break the bank trying !
What do wine professionals do ? Ayca Revaz , the lead winemaker for Chloe Wine Collection , has a few tips to help you navigate the wine aisle like a pro .
1 ) Figure out how the wines are organized . Take a step back and see how your store has the wines laid out . Are they grouped together by origin – U . S . or imported ? Varietal ?
Has the store created special sections for different varieties of whites and reds ? Many wine aisles will have markers above the sections to indicate which direction you should head to find the kind of wine you ’ re looking for .
2 ) Know your audience . Are you dealing with new wine drinkers , seasoned novices , or a mix of both ? You can ’ t go wrong with an approachable red and a crisp white .
Revaz often goes for pinot noir because it ’ s a versatile yet complex wine . For whites , she loves a cool-climate chardonnay or pinot grigio . They ’ re balanced , easy to drink , and not too sweet .
3 ) Consider with or without food . If you are looking for a wine to pair with a particular meal , Revaz suggests selecting a wine with a similar intensity as the food so that they don ’ t overpower one another .
For example , a fattier dish such as steak or pasta with a rich sauce will pair well with a strong , acidic wine such as cabernet . A lighter meal of fish and vegetables will pair well with a lighter-bodied wine such as pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc .
“ Keep in mind that in general , what grows together , goes together !” Revaz says . For example , try to pair your Italian meals with some Italian wines , while always considering the intensity of your dish .
4 ) Be honest with your taste . “ There is no shame in liking a sweeter wine !” Revaz says . Think about what flavor profiles actually sound good to you and look for bottles with those tasting notes . It takes a little extra time to read the labels , but you ’ ll feel good knowing you are spending your hard-earned cash on something that you ’ ll enjoy .
5 ) Choose wines from a familiar region and know the basics of climate . “ This sounds intimidating , but a little homework will go a long way !” Revaz says .
Grapes ripen quicker in a warmer climate , leading to a fuller-bodied , more jammy wine . Examples of warm climate wine regions are most parts of California ( Napa or inland wine growing regions ), Southern Italy , Southern France , Australia and Argentina .
On the flipside , a cooler climate where grapes take longer to ripen will produce more tart , acidic wines . Examples of cool climates include Coastal California ( Russian River or Monterey ), Northern France , Northern Italy , Oregon , Washington and New Zealand .
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