I'm a white wine drinker. I always feel a little embarrassed about this, white wine seems so frothy somehow, so not a 'take me seriously' drink. I'd like to be a red wine drinker, red wine says sophistication, complexity, substance. Whenever I have red wine I always have a brief moment of 'look at me, I'm such a grown-up!'. This isn't to say that I don't like red wine, I do - very much. But when it comes down to it, I veer instinctively to the white and then perceive myself to be without depth or character.
Genuinely I do prefer white wine. I like the sharpness of the taste, the crispness of the flavour. I like the way it cuts across the top of food all tangy and zingy and fresh. It's my version of the sorbet course that comes between the starter and the main at full on many coursed dinners.
I think my obsession with white wine stems from one lunch in the garden of my grandfather's house. A blazingly glorious sunny day and I'd just had my A-Level results which I'd completely nailed. Life was uncomplicatedly good. Better than good, it was great.
Grandpa loved his wines and that afternoon he'd chosen a special wine to celebrate. It was a beauty, pale as can be, almost clear and the sun reflected through the bottle all the way through lunch. The taste was as close as I have ever been to vinticultural heaven. Perfection through and through. One of those tastes at one of those moments that can not be bettered in any way.
Ever since that afternoon I've been trying to find out what that wine was. Grandpa died 15 years ago and thinking he would be around forever I'd never thought to ask him what it was. I've asked the others who were at that lunch, but noone can remember.
It was a dry wine. Very dry, Sancerre maybe? Sauvignon Blanc? I don't know, probably never will. But every time I open a bottle of white wine I have an anticipation that this wine might be the one. It never is of course, I think hunting down this vintage is destined to be one of my life's great unending quests.
But for better or worse I'm a confirmed white wine drinker. Reds just don't cut it with me. For all their complexity, depth and character I prefer the shiny uncomplicatedness of a summer's afternoon perfection.
You will never KNOW, but it's great fun looking. QB
ReplyDeleteI really struggle with wines. I can only drink expensive ones all the rest taste of vinegar to me!
ReplyDeleteIt might have been the cheapest bottle of plonk - but given you'd just written A levels and on top of the world, anything would have tasted of perfection. But keep on searching for it...a brilliant excuse to reach for the corkscrew. (I love white wine but it doesn't love me. Red is getting that way too. Rose or blush might be my only way forward)
ReplyDeleteI had one of those moments with a very dry Alsace Gewurtztraminer. It is liquid summer. Floral and spicy and dry as a bone. If not that, very pale suggests Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
ReplyDeleteViognier is another favorite of mine. It is often described as a red wine drinkers white. If you need any help searching, let me know. I love taking on chores like that:)
Oooh I had a similar experience with a perfume once, in that I smelt it, loved it, didn't find out what it was, and then spent forever and a day searching for it.
ReplyDeleteBut I found it in the end! It is Bulgari Omnia - the original one in the brown packaging. It's been discontinued now but I still buy it online. I wouldn't wear anything else.
I hope you find your wine.
I like that memory.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen this blog - http://knackeredmotherswineclub.blogspot.com/ - ask the Knackered Mother, she may be able to point you in the right direction
Oh yes, I'm a white wine gal, and I agree with you - it feels like I haven't quite grown up. I feel I ought to be more sophisticated and learn to love reds. But red wine doesn't agree with me so much these days, so all the more reason to stick with whites.
ReplyDeleteI love a sparkling white too. I think that's mostly by association. Such a celebratory feel to it.
White wine is a very sophisticated drink. I love it. Red gives me a headache. There is nothing more elegant than a glass of pouilly fume or a white burgundy.
ReplyDeleteAnon - such fun that I never really want to find the wine as what would I attribute my white wine habit to then?
ReplyDeleteJen - the older I get the more my wine palate requires an expensive bottle. Or at least a bottle that costs more than £2.50
HOM - I do like a bit of rose. And bubbles. Always the bubbles.
Wally B - I shall let you know
Gappy - inspirational that you found the perfume. Maybe there is hope for me yet.
Tanya - I like her blog very much. /i'm always going to like blogs that deal with motherhood and wine as I find the 2 very much go hand in hand
ReplyDeleteIota - I LOVE sparkling wines. So fizzily exciting. We shall have to have some next time we meet.
Mum of all trades - Pouilly fume is such a treat. I have a bottle at home that I am saving for a special occasion. Or a treat of a Thursday night.
I have had this post starred in my reader for ages and was about to delete without commenting and remembered I wanted to suggest a lovely dry white for you. Thought it might be the one you're looking for. It's any Sauvingnion/Semillion mix. Gorgeous.
ReplyDelete