Understanding Wine and Spirits

The pain of graduation leads many to drown their sorrows in drink. But while beer-chugging contests and sake bombing were considered power moves in college, they begin to lose

their mystique after graduation. Now’s the time to add a little class to your alcoholic endeavors. To help you out, here’s a primer on some more refined tipples to add to your artillery, from good red wine to the finest tequila. Stay classy, graduates, at least until the next reunion.

Wine Savvy

You don’t have to be that annoying d-bag from Sideways with his Merlotphobia, but knowing a thing or two about vino is a must in the competitive world of dating. Besides, it’s one of the few things that can get you tipsy and still be good for the ticker. Here are the ABCs of wine, from red to white, merlot to chardonnay.

Discovering Types of Wine

Wine classification goes by both the grape (Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, etc…) and by region (Bordeaux, Champagne, Chianti, etc…). Each type has its own unique set of characteristics that may or may not sound appealing to you, but ultimately the trick is try a bunch of wines and figure out what you like.

Many wine stores also have tasting bars, such as Vintage New York where customers can taste the wine before buying it. Go to Citysearch and enter “free wine tastings” to see what each specific city has to offer. Also, check out these sites for more local wine events and help finding a winery.

Red vs. White

Deciding on red or white often depends on what you’re eating. Generally, you should go for white with light, subtle foods like fish or most pastas, and reds with heavier dishes like meat or pasta with a cream or meat sauce. Luckily, most restaurants and bars serve the following staples:

Red

• Cabernet Sauvignon- Generally full-flavored with a smooth and lingering finish.
• Shiraz (or Syrah in France) – Tastes full-bodied with flavor notes of anything from violets to berries, chocolate, espresso, and black pepper.
• Merlot – Has a medium body with hints of berry, plum, and currant, and a buttery finish.

Whites

• Chardonnay – As one of the most versatile wines, often oaky but it can also be soft with fruity flavors or smoky with flavors of vanilla, caramel, or butter.
• Sauvignon Blanc – Tastes crisp, dry, and refreshing with flavors ranging from grass to tropical fruit.
• Pinot Grigio – Good for beginners due to its sweet, light, crisp, and neutral flavors.

How to Serve

Like a great meal, wine reveals its subtleties when served correctly. Indeed, in the world of wine, glassware is just as important as knowing how to get red wine out of white linen pants. Here is a guide to choosing the right glass.

Drink It, Speak It (Impress Your Friends)

In order to be the wine connoisseur of the posse, you need to know some basic (and not so basic) wine terms. Luckily, wines.com provides an online wine encyclopedia so if you ever get stuck debating the pros of oak-aging versus barrel-aging, you can fake a trip to the restroom and detour to your handy online guide.

Spirited Away

Order a Vodka Tonic at most bars and we’ll probably get a tall glass of ice with three-parts flat tonic water and one part engine coolant, also known as bottom shelf vodka. It might get us messed up, but it is sure to leave us with a very un-classy hangover the next morning. Ordering and mixing cocktails depends on the recipe and the ingredients, so check out the quick list below to stay classy and clear—until the third Belvedere Martini that is.

Vodka

• Good Brands: Ketel One, Grey Goose, Belvedere
• Mixers: As one of the most versatile alcohols, it can be mixed with everything from tonic to tomato juice. Whatever strikes our fancy.
• A Classy Drink: Classic Vodka Martini

Whisky/Scotch

• Good Brands: Maker’s Mark, Macallan or Glenlivet
• Mixers: Coke, ginger ale, club soda, or none at all.
• A Classy Drink: Manhattan

Gin

• Good Brands: Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, Hendricks
• Mixers: Tonic, lime juice (a Gimlet), 7-UP, juices (cranberry, orange, grapefruit, etc…)
• A Classy Drink: Tom Collins

Rum

• Good Brands: Bacardi, Mount Gay, Myers Dark
• Mixers: Coke, ginger ale, juices (pineapple, orange, grapefruit, etc…)
• Classy Drink: Mojito

Tequila

• Good Brands: Patron, Don Julia, Centenario
• Mixers: Rarely mixed, but as we all know, often taken in shot form with lime and salt (ouch, bad hangover memories).
• Classy Drink: Margarita