Product Thursday
When it comes to wine, I have a few hard and fast rules.
1. I do not drink anything that wants to fight with me or my food.
2. I do not drink anything that tastes like crap.
3. I do not drink anything that makes my rosecea light up like a stop light.
The last one made me draw a line in the sand and tell the husband I am no longer drinking red wine no matter how much he loves it. I have yet to find a red – merlot or pinot noir – that I enjoy drinking. I will do so occasionally with steak that is near perfection or has bleu cheese as a topper. But I want my wine and food matching to be nearly seemless, an enjoyable combination that does not make me regret my choice. I do not want to spend each swallow grimacing through the after taste.
Picture by Luis Rock 62
That is when I made the switch to white wines but not dry white wines. Chablis and chardonnay are not to my liking. Riesling and Muscato can be too sweet although they tend to pair up with cheese and crackers quite well. That leaves me with Pinot Grigio.
Luckily, I love this one. It is the right blend of fruity and dryness. Each brand can vary – some are more watery than others. But when you try something you like, you want to get more.
A few weeks ago the husband and I went to a dinner honoring people who were being inducted to our state’s outdoors hall of fame. We personally know two of the inductees and were happy to be there. There was a silent auction and a live action. We had a wonderful dinner and great conversation at our table.
The big surprise for me was a table that was set up with wine from a state winery. Pheasant Hollow Winery is located in Southern Illinois outside of the town of Whittington. It resides on the eastern shore of Rend Lake which is quite beautiful on its own.
When I tasted the Gun Creek White, I knew I had found the white I wanted to drink. It had a mellow taste that made my cheese cubes taste that much better. I noted hints of pear but according to the description there is also tones of apricot and pineapple. I even took the time to get the house pinot grigio to compare. Pheasant Hollow’s was soooo much better.
I drank this with my meal and was happy with the way the meal blended with the wine. There was never a sense that the drink was competing with the meal that had cheese and Italian herbs throughout.
Now if you want to buy some of this, you are going to have to do it the old-fashioned way and call the winery. The number can be found at the website. Their on-line store is still in the construction stage. Or you can go there in person. There are going to be a variety of events at the winery including mystery nights and a cajun festival in May.
Perhaps Pinot Grigio is not your favorite wine. Share below a brand and varietal that makes the top of your list.
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Notes from Rumbly Cottage 
Oh, hate it that you don’t like Pinot Noir. That’s almost all we drink, with the occasional Merlot, Cab or Chardonnay. La Crema is one bottle that comes to mind.
i am sorry to disappoint you. If you know a brand that dances on the tongue instead brutally beats it down, I will give it a try.
I love pinot grigio – my favorite as well. I will check out the Gun Creek White.
I’m a pretty cheap date when it comes to wine, though. I just like it – I also prefer white, especially just for drinking on its own while I’m preparing the meal!
I am a Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir drinker. I have yet to find a merlot to my liking. A current brand I enjoy is Barefoot (http://www.barefootwine.com/) I like both Pinot’s from them. My husband is not a wine drinker so sadly I don’t get to visit as many (or any) winery’s.
If my husband had his way, we would drink nothing but red. I grab whatever pinot grigio is on sale at the store but this I found at a special event. With the kids still in sports and such, I do not get much time for winery touring. (sigh)
I can’t drink red wine either. My face turns beet red and flushed. Even beer will do that to me sometimes. So sad. But there’s always white wine! Thanks for your suggestion, I’ll have to check it out.
I hate that redness. I feel so hot and people point. And I refuse to use antibiotic cream on my face.
Very nice. If you like Pino Grigio, you might like a good Cabernet Sauvignon…
Sorry, I meant to say Sauvignon Blanc
I will have to try it out.
I’d suggest trying sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. Also, my wife and I don’t like most American chardonnays because they’re overoaked. But we have liked steel-barreled ones. And Australia has some decent ones. Pouilly Fousse (spelling?), gewurztraminer and verdichio or vernaccias (other Italian whites) might be whites to your liking.
Apparently I am going to have to write this all down and take it to the store with me the next time I go wine shopping. I am also guessing this will not be at the gracery store.
All I want is my own vineyard. Sigh.
In France. Okay, I can live with one in California, US, too 🙂
Speaking of French wine…American is better!!! Just watch this movie – Bottle Shock (2008)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0914797/
Cheers!
Is bottle shock the movie with Alan Rickman in it? I think it is one of those I always meant o see but never got around to. People have vineyards near our house but they are not selling. Perhaps in the future.
You’re way more sophisticated than I am, Rumbly. White wine gives me a headache. I prefer red mostly because I like the idea of it, but really, most of those taste awful to me, too. I drink wine only with pizza or pasta, and probably have fewer than three glasses a month. It comes down to this: I either like the way it tastes or I don’t. Visiting wineries is always fun, though, for some reason.
Well, because I choose not to drink Red I am sure I am considered less sophisticated. But like you I want to drink what I enjoy. Many nights the hubby has a glass of wine at diner and I pass because it makes me tired. I would like to visit more wineries as well.
I like Pinot Noirs and Pinot Grigios…I’ll have to try the wine you mentioned. I’m always looking for something interesting. And good for you for knowing what you like…took me a long time to feel confident that I knew what I liked and didn’t have to drink stuff I don’t care for to seem like a wine person!
Thanks!
Sheila
It took me a long time to know what I liked as well. Finally, I said enough is enough. Or as Paul Giamatti growled in “Sideways,” “I am Not drinking Merlot.”