We aren’t just another wine club - we provide our club members with everyday wines along with a daily blog full of great wine information. Our articles are full of wine news, pairing suggestions, restaurant reviews, and party tips designed to help wine buyers ranging from complete novices to experienced drinkers looking for the next best bottle. Sure, we want you to purchase a membership to The South Beach Wine Club, but we also want you to stop by every day to see what's on our minds. And once you're here, we hope you comment on what you read.

The club is designed for those who like to enjoy wine every day and those who know that wine helps make a party great - no matter what size! But who has time to make that extra trip after work to the wine store, trolling through endless bottles of wine? You should spend your time enjoying the wine, so we pick great bottles at great prices for you. No more guess work!

We keep it simple - 3 different tiers: 2, 4 or 6 bottles per month.

The price is listed in the total price - no hidden shipping costs at check out.

Customize your shipment to be all reds, all whites, or a mix - because you never know.

Perfect gift for those busy friends who always like to have a bottle of wine around.

Regularly updated blog to provide you with helpful party tips, wine suggestions, and pairing ideas.

Today’s inexpensive wines are better than ever. So what’s with that guy who always orders the priciest bottle? Is he just showing off, or are there legitimate reasons some wines are more expensive than others?

Over the past few decades, winemakers all over the world have utilized high-tech equipment, and have employed sophisticated techniques to help ensure that consumers aren’t buying bum bottles. Armed with experience and the latest technology , they can inexpensively produce oceans of enjoyable wines. It all adds up to store shelves being jam-packed with consistently good wines at bargain prices.  But what really differentiates the bargain wines from the “top-shelf” bottles?

Aside from simply being fun to drink, a good wine meets recognizable standards. First off, it should be “varietally correct,” tasting like the grape or grapes from which it is made. A good wine also won’t have any unpleasant flavors or aromas. An alcoholic burn is a bad aroma, while a barnyard or asphalt aroma can be enjoyable to some (and so not a flaw). Finally, it should be balanced, without any one trait dominating the others, such as excessive tartness or sweetness.

Defining greatness in wine is much more difficult. That’s because ultimately, the only person who can judge whether a wine is truly great, and perhaps worthy of a higher price, is you. Even so, aficionados would agree that a great wine offers the best flavor characteristics of its grape varieties, and is reminiscent of the soil and climate of the place in which the grapes were grown. Its flavors and aromas may be so clear and enticing that resistance to its allure is futile. You have no choice but to give a great wine your full attention. Its flavor may go on for such a long time that it seems as though it might never end. And you hope it never will.

Unfortunately, magnificent wine doesn’t often come cheap. One of the biggest factors is basic supply and demand. There’s an extremely limited supply of the world’s most prestigious wines, and surprising numbers of people pay exorbitant amounts to get their hands on them.  Winemakers have identified a number of things they can do to radically upgrade quality – but, sadly, at a price. These may include:

·         Growing grapes only on the best sites – the scarcest, most expensive land

·         Severely limiting grape yield – fewer grapes per vine concentrates flavor but provides much less wine to sell

·         Harvesting by hand instead of by machine

·         Hand-sorting each bunch of grapes, using only the best for top wines

·         Buying many brand-new small oak barrels every year, which can cost up to $1,000 each

·         Properly aging the wines

·         Producing and blending with very small batches of wine

Remember, with the quality of all wines at historic highs, wine lovers may justifiably choose to never spend more than $10-$15 and still enjoy good bottles. Wine’s beauty, at any price, is in the glass of the beholder.

When everything else in the world seems to climb in costs year after year, it’s good to see that there are still plenty of wines priced at $10 to $15 a bottle that you can pour with confidence. In fact, most wine drinkers agree that today’s inexpensive wines are better than ever. The trick is trying to find the wines. While any trip to the wine aisle will reveal dozens upon dozens of reasonably priced wines on the shelves, choosing from among the often-zany labels – featuring everything from oversized roosters to yellow-tailed kangaroos – can be a challenge. But how is this choosing possible without spending hours at the liquor store? Easy, join a wine club – we do the work for you!

I hate to shamelessly plug my own wine club in a post, but after the conversation I had with my friend Jenn, I felt compelled to explain the ways a wine club benefits wine drinkers. And why choosing my wine club is the way to go (shameless plug). Jenn wanted to sign her husband Bobby up for a “wine of the month” club as a present for his first Father’s Day, and had an idea of what she was looking for. “Every day wines, all red, two bottles per month,” she said. I then suggested she look at The Party for Two (2 red) tier. Jenn then asked me how I choose what wines to send out every month. Well, here’s how I pretty much go about it…

I may choose a popular California varietal – but from a less familiar region. Some of the best low-priced, high-value wines have recently hailed from South America. So I look for Argentinean Chardonnay and Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay. On the other hand, I may include a bottle of tasty French Sparkling wine that I feel is a better value than its Californian counterparts. I could also send wines that people wouldn’t think to buy, like smooth Old Vine Zinfandel from Amador County, California. Some of my favorite wines are bold, zesty Zinfandels, but not too many people venture over to these shelves at stores. Once you get turned onto them, you’ll also enjoy the fact that Zinfandels are often the best value on restaurant wine lists

I feel that branching out with varieties and styles is very important when choosing wines for the Club. Introducing wine drinkers to their next favorite bottle is the best part of my job. For instance, I may include a Malbec from Argentina in an effort to help someone who usually prefers Cabernet Sauvignon make their wine lineup more exciting. Vinho Verde is a light, refreshing white wine from Portugal that’s famously inexpensive, and can give some variety to Pinot Grigio drinkers. Because many consumers mistakenly think that all pink wines are all as sweet as White Zinfandel, they pass over rows of vastly underrated (and under priced) rose wines – many of which could please both a red and white drinker. Riesling, too, is so under-appreciated that the price remains low for many of these elegant wines.

While it’s tempting to stick to your tried-and-true “usual,” it’s fun finding that next great bottle. But why roll the dice when there is such an easier way? Better your odds by letting me pre-taste bottles for you. I’ll get the hangover getting past the not-so-good bottles, and you’ll get the same wine I’d send to my friends.

In the evolution of form vs. function in wine packaging, natural cork progressed to become synthetic cork, and then advanced again to screwtops.  Anyone who tried to keep track of premium wines sealed with screwtops instead of traditional corks ran out of fingers long ago. The march toward twist-off closures has done nothing but accelerate in recent years. Why? Besides eliminating the possibility of cork taint, screwtops are just plain easier to deal with than corks. What’s more, the screwtop’s success has emboldened producers and marketers, leading to other innovations in contemporary wine packaging: the seal, the size, and the presentation.

Single-serving (187ml) packaging, for instance, is growing at double the rate of the overall market since 2003. Much of this boom comes from upscale bubblies. Taittinger, Pommery, and Piper-Heidsieck are a trio of famous French Champagne houses pitching teeny bottles (with chic straws attached). Francis Coppola went a step further, putting his Sofia mini in a can (yes I realize this seems sacrilegious). This wave of mini-vinos offers multiple advantages. They make it easier to enjoy single servings without having to deal with leftovers. They also are easier to tote on a picnic.  And for all the men out there with pregnant wives, just think of how much less of a tease a small wine bottle will be with dinner.

At the same time that mini bottles have blossomed, so have big boxes. These days, some prestigious producers are putting their bottle-worthy juice into efficient glass-free packages. Logically speaking, boxes are superior to bottles for the simple reason that their push button dispensers allow wine to flow out without air getting back in. The collapsing “bag-in-box” technology lets the wine stay fresh for weeks instead of mere days. Moreover, boxes are incredibly economical, both in terms of production and shipping. Wineries also pass along the savings to customers. The same wine that costs $7 to $8 in a standard 750ml bottle can be had in a 3-liter box (4 bottles’ worth) for less than $20. Do the math, and that’s under $5 a bottle.

“Tetra-packs” could be the next big step in the evolution of wine. The same technology used for juice boxes is being tried for Pinot Grigio in a 1-liter size by Three Thieves, the same California brand that scored big in 2004 with its consciously hip 1-liter jugs of red varietals. The snap closure doesn’t preserve the wine any better than screwtops after opening, but the nifty rectangular container fits nicely in a fridge door.

Retro jugs and colorful Tetra-packs fit right into another palpable trend in wine packaging, namely the emergence of so-called “fun wines.” Red Truck, Three Blind Moose, Jest Red, Fat Bastard, Twin Fin, Little Penguin, Smoking Loon, and Red Bicyclette are just a few examples of fun, everyday labels. It doesn’t take a Spectator-toting connoisseur to realize that these are not serious wines. In fact, it doesn’t take much more than a second or two. They just look like fun. And they taste fun, too: smooth, fruity, easy.

To be clear, I’m not saying that I would break out a 3-liter box of wine when I have family over for a nice dinner.  However, when having a South Beach style party, a big box of wine in the fridge will fit perfectly next to a case of…(fill in the blank with your preferred beer).

Sorry boys and girls, but even with a price tag of only $35 per person, this event wasn’t worth attending. And considering that there were no less than 40 wines and no lines to taste, it should have been a great time. But sadly, I don’t speak Spanish and so apparently didn’t deserve the time of day from the pourers, not to mention tastes of their wine.

It was a very rainy Saturday afternoon on South Beach and The South Beach Wine Club had been invited to attend the Mediterranean Expo at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The Expo was described as an international food, beverage, and tourism trade show that has become a culinary mecca for Mediterranean culinary culture and lifestyle. That’s all well and good, but I feel they should have been prepared for those of us on the beach that no habla espanol. I had on a press pass, meaning I could be writing for a blog or the Miami Herald for all anyone knew. And yet, it was more challenging to get the women behind the tables to pour, than it would be to shave my face in the dark. Apparently I didn’t know that wines from The Canary Islands were doing well enough in the US market that their representatives could afford to be rude to members of the press.

The two wines I did manage to try were the a Moscatel Licor and a Malvasia Rosado Dolce, both very sweet dessert wines. The Moscatel Licor packed a wallop with 15% alcohol – which came through loud and clear on the nose. As Ron Burgundy would say, “It was a deep burn.” And although the Licor lacked fruit on the palate, it had plenty of a sweet honey flavor. It wasn’t like drinking pure honey mind you, but you would have to really like sweet wine to enjoy this bottle. Come to think of it, you could try pouring it on your pancakes. The Rosado Dolce wasn’t quite as sweet, but was certainly interesting. A red Dolce – who would have thought. Equally high in alcohol as the Licor, the Dolce had a flat grapey sweetness to it – somewhere between a Beaujolais and Manischewitz wine (making it perfect for my future father in-law).

On the food side of the event, there was an area for olive oil tasting. Nine extra virgin olive oils and all of the French bread kept me occupied for a good amount of time. Let’s just say that I didn’t need to eat again for a while.

I was also able to learn some interesting facts about cheese. I tasted some amazing Pecorino cheese which is similar to Parmesan. The difference is that Pecorino is normally aged 6-8 months and comes from sheep’s milk. Parmesan is aged from 20-24 months and is made from cow’s milk. The Pecorino cheese I was able to taste at the event was aged for the same amount of time as a Parmesan, but was a touch sweeter, less salty, and very elegant due to its aging.

Sadly, the good good food wasn’t enough to get rid of the bad taste left in my mouth by the wine pourers.

The purchasing power a large grocery store chain has is immense. And the same ability these stores have to buy large amounts of pampers exists for wine as well. Take for example the Publix we have on South Beach. They are cheaper than pretty much any retailer on the beach because of their buying power. If you know you want a bottle of Menage a Trois, go to Publix and get it at $10.99 instead of $12.99 at your liquor store. Of course, you couldn’t find out what their prices were unless you went into a Publix – they are one of the many stores who don’t list their wines online. What, if any, are the costs of purchasing wine from a grocery store instead of a liquor store? Well, for one thing, the same person stocking the wine shelves at a grocery store is the same person bagging your groceries at checkout. They have no knowledge of wine, and so won’t be able to suggest an alternative if the wine you’re looking for is out. Because these same bag boys are the ones stocking the shelves, you can only imagine how many bottles are misplaced and mispriced. And what about the checkout lines? Are you patient enough to stand in line behind the family doing their shopping for the week? These obstacles are enough to encourage many to buy their wines from a nice, organized liquor store.

Personally, I feel the Internet solves the question of where to buy wine. If your grocery store put their wines online, making it possible to compare their prices, they might appear organized enough to buy from them. Of course if they did this, they would have to spend the money to create a user friendly site that was up to date on their wine selections. And you can bet that they would pass this cost onto the consumer. But if bottles are an average of $3 less in the grocery store, and they raised the prices by a mere $1.50 per bottle, they’d still be cheaper. This isn’t good news for local wine stores, but people still have to buy spirits, and Publix isn’t able to sell them…yet. At their local liquor store, once customers have their vodka, scotch, and tequila in hand, they’ll be sure to see what wines are available too.

Of course, a great way to try new wines, and not waste ANY time in ANY store would be to join a wine club – perhaps The South Beach Wine Club.

The night started well – endless glasses of Bouvet Brut sparkling wine for from Loire; lush gardens of plants, flowers, and trees lining elegant white tables and chairs; a ballroom full of wine bottles begging to be poured. There were reds and whites from Spain and France, donated by Eric Solomon of European Cellars; but the reds, all the reds, were more or less the same varietals. It was the cool white wine that saved this hot Miami evening.

The Fairchild Palms donates all fundraising proceeds to The Fairchild Challenge, a South Florida-based environmental education and conservation program credited for leading a green revolution in schools nationwide. Who doesn’t want to drink for a good cause? But a person can only go back and forth between Grenache from France and Garnacha from Spain for so long. Sure, there were bottles of 2004 Celler de Cantonella Cervoles Tinto Costers del Segre (it has 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot), but after an hour, I was begging for a grapey Pinot Noir or an oaky Cabernet Sauvignon. Almost all of the red wines were easy drinking and fruit forward, but they became monotonous.

Thankfully, the whites were fantastic, and this worked out well considering the hors d’oeuvres were mainly fish and shellfish. Specifically, the 2007 Con Class Verdejo and 2007 Burgans Albarino went perfectly with the tuna tartare, cajun shrimp, and fried oysters. The bright grapefruit and marmalade characteristics refreshed my palate after every bite of salty, spicy seafood. The pinnacle of the night came in the form of a French dessert wine, the 2003 Chateau Tirecul La Graviere “Les Pins,” made from a blend of Semillon, Muscat, and Sauvignon Blanc. A wonderful medley of honey and apricot, and lighter than a Sauterne, the bottle paired perfectlywith the desserts.

Next year, I hope for a little more variety. Give us some basic red varietals first so that we are more confident in drinking Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre all night. Just think, the more people that get liquored up, the more charitable they will feel when bidding on the silent auction.

In 2006, Savanna Samson released her Sogno Uno (Dream One) under her new Savanna Wine label.  It was an Italian red, blended from Cesanese, Sangiovese, and Montepulciano.  This wouldn’t be news except for the fact that Savanna Samson is a Vivid Girl, and one of the top stars in adult entertainment today.  Although thought to be a gimmick similar to other stars lending their name to wine, Samson’s wine was actually good.  Next came her second bottle, a white made from Falanghina aptly named Sogno Due (Dream Two).  Now, The South Beach Wine Club is ready to recieve Samson’s third bottle Sogno Tre later this year. Ed McCarthy of the book Wine for Dummies has already given Sogno Tre 92 points – close to the 91 point score Robert Parker gave to Sugno Uno.  Some could speculate that Samson does not deserve these ratings, and that these gentlemen are merely blinded by her adult films.  Vivid Entertainment was kind enough to arrange a meeting with Savanna, and you’ll be happy to know that she is just as passionate about her wine as she is about her day job.

Savanna Samson's Wine Label

The soon to be released Sogno Tre (Dream Three) is going to be a Barbera from 50 year old vines. Samson prefers Old World varietals because of the history in the grapes and soil.  She explains that, “These grapes have had to struggle, and you can taste that struggle in the wine.”  Samson’s own wine preferences are mostly for Italian wines, so she continues to try to make wines that she herself would enjoy.  Sogno Due came about from her love of Pinot Grigio, specifically Santa Margarita.  Over time, she began liking their bottle less and less and decided to make her own light refreshing white wine.  “Perhaps they changed the formula,” she joked.  Any executive working for Coke in the 80s can tell you – don’t change the formula!  The Italian reds she regularly drinks are Chiantis and Super Tuscans.  Pinot Noir is also one of her favorite red varietals, but only from Burgundy because, “California Pinot’s, although consistent, are pretty predictable.”

Sogno Tre is only the halfway point to Samson’s dream of creating a portfolio of six bottles.  Next on the list will be Champagne from legendary producer Moutard.  Samson loves the idea of making a Blanc de Blanc (100% Pinot Noir) or even a Rose. Either way, her goal is to try new things and to “see what I can call my own.”  No complaints from her fans; we love to see Samson trying new things.

Savanna Samson with Randy of The South Beach Wine Club at Exxxotica Miami

In addition to her three dreams and the Champagne, Samson also wants to work on a Super Tuscan and a Pinot Grigio.  She will be keeping wine maker Roberto Cipresso for every bottle in her line, but is uncertain of what the sixth bottle will be.  She is looking to her fan base to provide some suggestions, so please submit some ideas.  Samson wants to stay true to form, producing sexy wines for people to have at parties.  “Serving wine at parties changes the party.  People talk more and began interacting much more.”  We like the road that Samson is going down with this thought – all we have to do is watch one of her videos to know how those parties end.

There are cheap dinners that involve take-out or fast food, and then there are CHEAP dinners that are amazingly classy. One such dinner took place at the Miccosukee Resort in Miami. For the ridiculously low price of $6.95, their Café Hammock serves its famous Florida Steak and Lobster Special. And what wine was served with this unbelievably priced meal? Blue Nun’s Medium Sweet Riesling.

The fact that it was Blue Nun Riesling served with the meal is overshadowed by the larger question of what do you serve with surf and turf. A red for the steak that is light enough for the lobster, or a white that compliments the lobster and can still stand up to the steak. It was decided to order a white with our particular meal, and at a price of $18 ($7 in any store), the Blue Nun seemed like a good choice. A value bottle all the way, the Blue Nun came through marvelously, not because of what it offered, but because of what it was missing: any real flavor that would offend any part of the meal.

From the 1950s into the 1970s, Blue Nun was marketed as the wine that could be drunk throughout the entire meal. It’s just a simple, light, sweet wine, so what couldn’t it be paired with. A heavy steak dinner would certainly overshadow such a light white.  But with just steak, you wouldn’t order a white. With surf and turf, a balance has to be struck between the competing food flavors. The wine should refresh the palate, not detract from dinner. This particular Riesling was a good choice because it did just that. What’s more is that Blue Nun has a slight petrol character in the finish that complimented the minerality of the lobster, as well as the grilled flavor of the steak. The petrol flavor is more common in German Riesling that has a few years on it. In this case, we may have just lucked out.

Pairing a light Riesling with surf and turf is not an obvious choice, but it is something worth trying. It is up to the individual to choose a bottle of his or her preferred sweetness. Due to the fact that the wine has to walk the line between seafood and red meat, a more expensive bottle may not be right; too much complexity could cause a less than desirable effect. If cooking at home, the best bet would be to buy a bottle that is around the same price as your meat’s cost per pound.

One definitely makes the other better.  One can usually make the other happen.

This weekend, The South Beach Wine Club attended the Exxxotica Miami event at the Miami Beach Convention Center.  As a member of the press, The Club sought to find out what the hottest stars in the adult entertainment industry were drinking.  The stars were asked about their favorite varietals and/or producers and of course we talked about The South Beach Wine Club.  Here is what the lovely ladies had to say:

Adult Entertainer Teagan Presley

Sienna West – Enjoys red wine, especially Pinot Noir.  She says her favorite bottle is Pinot Evil, which she regularly purchases from Whole Foods.

Lexi Love – Love that sailors outfit!  She loves Italian reds – Pinot Noir, Montepulciano, and Sangiovese are particular favorites.  She would probably enjoy a solid Ripasso, which is an Italian red wine made from Volpolicella, by running it through the drained skins left from making Amarone.

Kayden Kross – Likes to buy low calorie Pinot Noir from Trade Joes. Wine with Gamay actually has slightly fewer calories and could be a nice alternative to a Pinot Noir.  She should try a nice Beaujolais.

Sunny Leone – She can go both ways, enjoying a Cabernet Sauvignon with dinner, and having light Pinot Grigio in the afternoon.  The South Beach Wine Club certainly appreciates a woman who likes a drink in the afternoon.

Sasha Grey – Loves Syrah, particularly the 2003 vintage.  This year made some pretty meaty wines.  She also likes Bordeauxs, so long as they are smooth and not bitter.  We would have to agree!

Meggan Mallone – This Vivid girl enjoys her Chardonnay, especially Kendall Jackson.  But she also enjoys having a red while in the tub after a long day, or if she’s feeling blue.

RubberDoll – This dark haired beauty loves latex and a nice cold bottle of Prosecco.

Lexi Lapetina – She says she’s pretty easy when it comes to wine, as long as it’s white wine.  She usually drinks Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio, but really likes the blend of the two that Luna di Luna puts out – the blue bottle to be exact.

Jayden James – Likes the white wine she finds at Target aptly named Pro-mis-Q-ous. The word is that the wine tastes like Welch’s grape juice, but has the benefit of alcohol. I don’t think this bottle is going to make it into the club.

Flower Tucci – Mainly sticking to red wine, Flower has particular favorites: La Crema Pinot Noir, Coppola Merlot, and Blackstone Merlot.  We think she would probably enjoy Coppola’s Rosso as well.  She was quick to add that she likes Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio – but only when she can enjoy it with friend and co-star Courtney Cummz.

Joanna Angel – This Burning Angel loves red wine and Champagne.  For reds, she enjoys Cabernet Sauvignon, particularly Joseph Phelps Insignia. As for Champagne, she sticks to the classics: Veuve Clicquot (yellow label), Perrier Jouet, and Moet & Chandon.

Maggie Green – She’ll drink just about any red as long as it’s a Cabernet Sauvignon.  But if it’s a white, make it a La Crema Chardonnay.

Jenna Haze – This tiny hottie absolutely loves Chateauneuf du Pape from the Rhone region in the south of France. Likewise, she also enjoys Shiraz and Pinot Noir. But Jenna is not too big on big Cabernet Sauvignons, explaining that, “Cabs put me to sleep because of their heavy tannins.” We’ll make sure we send her plenty of the wines she likes, so as to keep her ready to go.

Adult Entertainer Jenna Haze posing with Randy of The South Beach Wine Club

Sara Jay – A woman who knows exactly what she wants, Sara loves Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of New Zealand.  Kim Crawford is a particular favorite.  She also enjoys German Riesling because it’s, “The real Riesling.” Sara, we’d have to agree, although we know of some pretty good US style bottles.  We’ll make sure we send them on out.

Courtney Cummz – Enjoys organic Cabernet Sauvignon, so we promise to get a bottle of Frey and Bonterra out to her.  She also loves Santa Margarita, and sharing it with fellow star Flower Tucci.

The trend seems to be easy drinking red and white wines, with many of the girls knowing exactly what they like.  The South Beach Wine Club is excited about signing these girls up, and to begin sending them bottles to help them branch out, and explore new labels.  We are also happy to sign their fans up for club memberships too!

My brother and his girlfriend are planning a trip to Italy (I know, I’m jealous of them too).  They’ve got their hotels lined up, itinerary planned out, and tickets payed for. The only problem is that they are going to one of the wine centers of the world and know nothing about wine.

Recalling my history in the business, they asked if I would show them the basics – just enough to get by and not stand out as boorish Americans.  Although I’m certainly no sommelier, I was glad to oblige as wine tastings are always fun.

I set out to prepare and bought a variety of reds and whites (and some accompanying cheeses). After all was said and done I ended up with a chianti, lambrusco, cabernet sauvignon, and pinot noir for the reds. For the whites I got pinot grigio, chardonnay, and riesling. It’s always an adventure when you set out to a good wine&spirits store with an open mind for what you might find.

I felt that the riesling and lambrusco would offer nice ‘beginner’ flavor profiles and not be overwhelming. On the flipside, I was hoping the chainti, cab, and pinot grigio would offer more complexity.

When we all got together for the tasting, they both seemed very excited about the pinot noir. Pinot’s popularity has received such a boost in recent years that even non-wine people “know” it’s “the best”. Personally, I like pinot just fine so I didn’t spend too much time trying to dissuade them of their opinion.

As we went through the tasting, the lambrusco and riesling both went over really well (much to my pleasure as I was hoping they would). When we finally got to the pinot, both my brother and his girlfriend expected the triumph wine of the evening.

They were mistaken.

The pinot was uncharasmatic, boring, and off-balance. The alcohol had too much bite even for me and offered nothing to be excited about. My brother sipped it with hesitation and his girlfriend wrinkled her face in displeasure.

It was then that I explained to them the differences that producer and region can have. Quality wasn’t solely a characteristic of varietal.

With a new first-hand understanding, they gladly went back to their lambrusco, which before that night, they had never even heard of.