Last month I gave myself the goal of tasting two wine/grape varietals I have never had before. It was a simplest enough goal that I decided to make it a habitual monthly task. There are over 10,000 grape varietals used in the wine making process and I have barely tasted my way through one wine isle. Understanding the wine world is incredibly vast, I assumed I was decently versed in my wine varietals. Turns out, I am not and I haven't even had two of the top ten grape varieties in the world according to Forbes.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, Airén, Chardonnay, Syrah, Grenache Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Trebbiano Toscano / Ugni Blanc
I love my Washington Wines and trying the same varietals from different wineries is incredibly fun and informative. The caveat is local wineries tend to have local fruit, limiting the exposure of my taste buds to only a few varietals compared to the 10,000 in the world.
Inspired by the information in my Wine Folly book and my general lack of wine exposure, I decided I needed to make a conscious effort to try new wines. Well, new to me. Companies like Total Wine and Naked Wines have made this challenge accessible. I can find wines I have never tried for $15.00 or less, making it a very low risk activity. If I don't like it, it is not the end of the world. It is ok to dislike a wine, it is not ok to never give it a taste.
So I challenge you! Try something new. Put down your Cab Sav and Pinot Grigio and pick up something you have never heard of before. Chat with friends or friendly employees at your local wine shop for recommendations. Let them know your budget and what your favorite tasting notes include. You may end up finding new wines that will not break the budget, that you end up loving. Turn it into a monthly habit.
Share with me what you have been sipping on. It could be something I have never tried before and will help me on my new wine adventures. Share it on social media with #newwinechallenge and tag @the.wine.tails on Instagram. Get excited about trying something new. Drinking new wines could be the easiest challenge you have ever participated in.
I am excited to see your new wine experiences. Cheers!
Here is a running list of what I have tasted thus far. Leave a comment or send me a message for recommendations/questions on the varietals below.
- Aglianico
- Albariño
- Barbera
- Blanc Cabernet Franc
- Carmenere
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc
- Chardonnay
- Carignan
- Chenin Blanc
- Cinsault
- Counoise
- Grenacha
- Grenache
- Grenache Blanc
- Malbec
- Mouvedre
- Montepluciano
- Merlot
- Muscato
- Petit Verdot
- Petite Sirah
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Grigio
- Pinot Gris
- Pinot Nior
- Primotivo
- Sangiovese
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Syrah / Shiraz
- Teroldego
- Zebbibo (a.k.a Muscat of Alexandria)