What I know about wine can be summed up in a single word. Nothing. Oh sure, I know that there’s red and white, and several pinks, but other than color that’s it. I think whites are served chilled and reds are not. Ice is not an acceptable option for either one.
I make this point because since I’ve been on my “singles” website there are several single women who describe a “good time” as holding hands, watching a good movie, and drinking a “nice” glass of wine. White and red are never mentioned.
When Ruth drank wine, it was white. I think because it tastes “fruitier”; if that’s a word. She was not a big drinker. She was what is known as a short hitter. She was one and done or should have had one and been done. Her consumption was determined in large part by who she was with. She drank more in Florida than Michigan but would have drunk more in Michigan if she had spent as much time with the same friends. It was more about the people, and circumstances, than location.
When it was just the two of us, she might have a single beer, but the weather had to be hot, and the beer had to be cold. That’s just how she rolled.
She, like me, liked her bourbon. Her favorite was Buffalo Trace. I think that was because she visited the distillery on multiple occasions. Every time we traveled on Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail, we stopped and shopped. While she liked her bourbon, she loved her bourbon cream. They provided samples of both, and she loved her samples.
Lucky for me, both my daughters-in-law, Kate and Lindsay, drink wine. They don’t drink a ton, but they know good from bad. I just know red and white. I think you serve white with fish and red with beef but that’s really stretching my expertise.
Lindsay came to Florida a few weeks ago. I shared my wine dilemma as it applies to the single ladies on the web. I had a couple of bottles of red wine in the house. Both were leftovers that others had bought. She looked them up online. One cost about $16.00 and the other $40.00. We started with the less expensive bottle and followed that with the second. Sure enough, we both liked the $40.00 bottle best.
After we drank the two, we decided to further our study. We went to the largest liquor store in the area: Total Wine. If they don’t have it, you don’t need it.
Relax, we didn’t go the night we drank the two bottles. We waited until the following afternoon. As luck would have it, a local vodka distiller was having a “taste test” just inside the front door. He offered us a free sample and followed the “straight up” with three different mixes. Faster than you can say, “four shots down” he offered us “a deal” on a fifth of vodka by throwing in three small sample bottles. Bingo. We were sold.
Undeterred, and four hands on the shopping cart, we went wine shopping. Lindsay chose a couple of bottles, and a wine store advisor chose two. He spoke of hints of cherry, blackberry and raspberry and talked about tannins, whatever those are. I just know what I like and what I don’t.
When we were done, we had a fifth of vodka, three free samples, and four bottles of red wine. We drank a single bottle of wine on the three nights we had left. I still have one bottle for the next time she visits. Full disclosure: we did tap the vodka but mixed it as directed by our distillery friend.
I’ve known Lindsay for half of her life. Ruth and I met her at The Beach Bar in the spring of 2001 when she served us one afternoon. She had a look that I knew David would love, and I told Ruth just that. Shortly after meeting her, another Beach Bar employee, my daughter, Elizabeth, set up a date for Lindsay and David. The rest is history. When David married Lindsay, I got three new people to love: Lindsay, then Brady and then Eva. My own personal trifecta.
It’s Lindsay’s birthday today. She’s a blessing with a great knowledge of wine. Especially red. She’s my personal oenophile.
Happy birthday Linds. Love you.