What do Wine Geeks Drink?

Going out to dinner with my friends is always an adventure. When you, "hang out" with people in the industry, like minded souls that spend their days tasting wine,testing new menu recipe's and exploring the creative genius of the flavor spectrum, well lets just say it is an engaging experience. The group will ultimately seek the oddest wine on the menu to pair with the oddest food offered. Recently we have been seeking BYO's or houses that allow BYO opportunities. These days there is usually the, "same old same old", wine list lay-out. We get it, it really isn't rocket science, restaurants are open for profit, the wine selection used to be the main source of this profit margin and in the recent economy, most restaurants have gone to lists that are cost effective, AKA less expensive selections by larger brands for a better profit margin.

The varietal selection is also the same old same old too. Chardonnay in the U.S. on-premise world leads the selective pack followed by pinot grigio, Syrah/Shiraz, Riesling, Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and then everything else. No complaints, once again we get it, so with the menus reflecting the taste preferences of the main stream consumer, we geeks are challenged. If the house of choice has a producer and or region that is not in the main stream, we have found our wine for the evening, usually though, it is all the more engaging when we each, and this happens, bring something to the table. The house always get to taste, additional food is always purchased and the server will always see a larger than normal gratuity. Being in the business, we know what the restaurant sacrifices, we understand what the extra attention brings. It's not that we resist the wine selection being offered,often we'll buy something anyway to help the cause, its just that as geeks we want to try, as often as possible, as many different wines we can find and share the experience with our brothers in arms so to speak.

I will say this, though, with wine by the glass programs, there aren't many that offer taste flights of their BTG boards, and there are less that test the geek appeal category with an odd selection. What's an odd selection? Let's start by region, South Africa is always fun, when was the last time you found a Pinotage BTG? Go to Israel and the Golan Heights, the wines have always been flavorful, or Eastern Europe anyone? How about right here in the U.S. and I am not speaking about California, Washington or Oregon either. There is wine produced in every state in the Union these days, why not an Idaho wine, Snake river Canyon has some really nice wines. New Mexico? Texas? Virginia, PA. New Jersey? By the glass doesn't have to be a large investment and the pour rate dissipates the wine usually quickly. One would be surprised how the selection might intrigue a diner like us, and there's lots of us out there looking for these things. OK Regions put to bed, how about varietal? Gruner Veltliner isn't something one sees BTG, ever! Falaghina, Torrontes,Vinho Verde, Carignan, Albarino used to fit in this category, but I am seeing it daily now as the newest fad in white wine, so how about Torrontes,Muller-Thurgau, or Silvaner? These wines are out there and all the buyers need to do is ask their purveyors.

Ultimately, we'll keep scouring the wine selections at our local wine shops and looking for a BYO that likes the business. It is a shame, though, with so many cutting edge Artisan Chefs and Restaurateurs in this country, we don't seek to be more unique and less cookie cutter with the wine experience we offer our patrons.