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Come home to a whole
new wine world with…
Over 750 different
wines, 150 Kosher wines, 300 spirits and a
great selection of cold beer.
Pikesville, MD–21208. 410-415-5550 M-T : 10:00am-8:30pm F : 10:00am-9:00pm S : 9:00am-9:00pm Grape Expectations: |
Name that red Consider
all the health benefits of wine – especially red wine – and you have to
wonder why everyone’s not on the grape bandwagon. Only one reason when it
comes to guys: pronunciation. Picture
several guys at a sports bar watching the NBA finals. One of them says to the
server: “That This
particular fellow may indeed appreciate a glass of red wine as much as a
beer. Red wine goes well with anything grilled – hamburgers to salmon. Also:
steak sandwiches, spaghetti, nachos, even a turkey club. Requesting a glass
of wine, however, can be challenging. Here’s
why: Scientific studies show that guys are reluctant to order anything that
sounds French (except French fries or French toast). There’s also a
translation issue. How many guys, for instance, have ordered steak tartare
and unexpectedly learned the French term for uncooked hamburger? The
solution: nicknames. Guys love nicknames. Just ask anyone who’s ever played
sports, run for public office, or been in a fraternity or band. Here
are some nicknames to get you started. Refer to Cabernet Sauvignon as “Cab.” Many people do. Some guys will
naturally want to adlib. “Barkeep, I need a ‘cab’—seen one?” Or: “I’ll take a
glass of that Cab Calloway.” At least they’re thinking wine. For Cabernet Franc, think Sinatra, and if
possible, say the singer’s first name with a British accent. Avoid the urge
to say “Cab Frankie.” Zinfandel –
one of the most robust and flavorful reds – is simply “Zin”
– never “Red Sin.” Should anyone ask “white or red?” stare at the questioner
(using your best Dirty Harry look) and say: “I’m talking wine, not apple
juice. Red, got it?” Use a similar approach with Pinot Noir if someone mentions the white Pinots: Grigio and Gris. Just say “Pinot – the dark one.” Italian
wines are ideal for nicknames because many of them sound like characters on The Sopranos. Get to know several
Italian grapes – all of which are fun to say and easy to pair with common
Italian first names. Tony Sangiovese, Carmine Chianti,
Louie Nebbiolo
– mix and match first names to your heart’s desire. Argentinean
Malbec –
which, as you’d expect, goes well with beef – shouldn’t be a problem. It has
a name that could easily be mistaken for the name of a beer. The other “M”
wine – Merlot – comes with
undeserved baggage. It was an object of scorn in the movie Sideways. Try the Rocky approach: “Yo, Merlot” and stand up for this tasty red. Happy Father’s Day. Gerald H. Levin June 2009
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