Drinking Red Wine

By Tom Morrone, CFP ®, CPA, Principal

As many of you know I have a passion for drinking red wine and have definitely become somewhat particular about what I consume. To many it is merely red wine or white wine but it definitely goes way deeper than just the color. Also, depending on the type of wine, the temperature is also important. Even though I enjoy a nice Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio on a warm sunny day and having a salad or chicken dish, I definitely have a palate that favors the red varietals of wine.  Also, the cooler weather for me makes a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon very inviting. Add a fine cigar to the mix and I am one happy guy. Two things are on my mind today. The first is types of wine and the second is temperature. Sorry but I am that anal with how I think about things, wine included. Let’s start with types of wine.

What drives me crazy is if at a restaurant and the server refers to the wine as merely red or white. Well to me that is like asking someone if they prefer a car or a boat. Well if we are going fishing then a boat would be my selection every time. Even then the type of boat would matter. If we were going water skiing and not fishing there might be a better option.  What if we were just throwing out an anchor and the plan was to swim off the boat and just chill out all afternoon. Of course if we had to go to Walmart a boat would not work at all and a car would be better suited for that trip. Well you get the idea. Back to the restaurant, it is not that simple, red or white.

Some people pick a wine they like and that is all they drink. I agree with that logic in that there are so many choices that it can be so confusing so if you find something you like stick with it. Being adventurous, I like to explore and try different wines from around the world. There are the well-known parts of the world for wines such as Italy, California and France. There are some great wines from Argentina, Chile, South Africa, and Australia as well as other areas that produce some fine wines. There is no best wine for me because my mood, the food I am eating and time of year all determine the wine I drink. Sometimes I drink a glass of wine merely to enjoy the wine. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti, Syrah, Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo, Malbec, Nera d’ Avola, Sangiovese, etc.……love them all.

Temperature is another issue that is important when it comes to wine, especially red varietals. Whites are usually served chilled right from the fridge or the cooler. Reds on the other hand are usually served anywhere from 58 – 65 degrees. Therefore, where wine is stored before being served is important. I have seen many a wine rack on top of a fridge. Heat rises and the heat from the fridge itself makes that location possibly the worst place to keep red wine. On the other hand, serving red cold it is not the best either. I have seen people in a restaurant order a nice bottle of Chianti and then take ice cubes from the water glass and put it in the wine. I want to scream. Well maybe not scream but at least take notice. I did say in the beginning that I am particular about what I consume. Now you know that I am particular about the temperature of what I am consuming as well.

So, red or white or maybe I should just drink beer.

Until the Next Tom’s Take…