Her Campus FSU does not encourage or condone underage drinking.
Wine is intimidating. It’s often showcased in movies and television at fancy dinners with a pompous character murmuring about the refreshing, subtle oak undertones. The other character who doesn’t know the difference looks like an idiot, and we relate to them because we too have no idea what oak tastes like. We’ve been conditioned to believe that wine is out of our reach. It’s expensive. It’s impractical.
But there’s been a recent shift in wine culture (yes, that is a thing). Over the past few years, the idea of the “wine mom” has become vastly popular among all (legal) age ranges. You don’t have to sit in stiff clothing at a five-star restaurant to enjoy a glass; you can sit in your pajamas at home with your girls or your cats and un-wine-d (rimshot). An article titled “Are You a Wine Mom? Here’s How You Know” identifies a wine mom as “a person who prefers sweats over pants… laying on the couch versus basically doing anything else… a person whose ‘me’ time is defined by a nice glass of wine.” The majority rules that this sounds pretty sweet.
You want to take the plunge into the wine mom lifestyle, but you don’t know where to start. The world of wine is vast and seemingly endless. Once you start exploring you’ll find that it’s deceptively accessible. Here are a few tips to get you on the right track.
Courtesy: The Wine Wankers
1. First and foremost, you must be 21. Anything younger and, unfortunately, you are immediately disqualified from the Wine Mom Club. Try again in a few years and remember to show your ID.
2. You like brighter/fruitier flavors? Try a Riesling, Moscato, or Zinfandel. You can get them in all sorts of colors, but the ones I tend to stick to are white/rosé. More often than not, a white will be sweeter than a red, but you can get some pretty dry white wines (see a Chardonnay for that).
3. Don’t have much of a sweet tooth? Go for a wine with more tannins, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir. These are the ones that people often joke about having an “oaky” flavor, but they may also have tones of dark fruits, vanilla and many other flavors.
4. Are you really struggling with your introduction to the wine world, but still want to try and make it? Start with a lovely little brand called Arbor Mist. Not only are they super cheap ($4-$6 for a bottle), but they taste like juice. Literally. You can hardly taste the alcohol. They have a variety of flavors (blackberry, peach, strawberry, etc.) and will help your transition to wine mom status.
Courtesy of: Phoenix New Times
5. Start cheap while you figure out whether or not you’re a white or a red kind of person. No sense in trying a couple different $40 red wines only to find out you like white. There are plenty of solid, cheap brand—my go-tos are Barefoot and Sutter Home, as they’re usually $12 and under. Once you know your preference, then it will be easier on your bank account to spread your wings.
6. If you want a handy scratch-and-sniff book on wine, look for The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert by Richard Betts. Reading helps out, sure, but being able to smell the wine will really give you an idea of what you’re into and what you’re not.
Wine doesn’t sound so scary anymore, does it? So slap on a onesie, pick a show, grab a bottle, and cozy down. You’re on the path to becoming a wine mom!