Richer or Poorer: Buying wine on a budget

$200+ >>

Ch. Mouton Rothschild 2001. Costing more than $200 a bottle and having a limited run, this full-bodied French wine is nearly perfect. Be prepared for smoky aromas and hints of cedar in the aftertaste.

$32-$40 >>

Louis Jadot Meursault 2000. The Burgundy region in France is renowned for its Chardonnays, and this is a perfect example. Enjoy it with some chicken or fish.

$6-$16 >>

Carlo Rossi Chablis, year unknown. If you can find a brown bag big enough to wrap it in, you’ll be in luck. This fruity white is cheap and comes in a collectible jug.

$15 >>

Franzia Chablis 2006. You mean I can get five liters of liquor for 15 bucks? Sign me up.

Wine Tasting 101:

1. Look

Fill your glass about a quarter full and tip it at a 45 degree angle – you’re looking for color. Young red wines are usually a purple color, while older ones range from red to brown. In white wine, the colors generally start at clear for younger wines then move to more of a straw color as they age.

2. Swirl

By swirling the wine you unlock some of the hidden aromas. The best method is to set your glass on a table and give it a good shake until a tiny tornado appears in the glass.

3. Smell

Now that you’ve effectively released the aromas, it’s time to sniff them out. Don’t be afraid to stick your entire nose in the glass and take a big whiff. If you haven’t quite developed a smell for wine, then yelling out things like “oak,” “cherry” and “elderberry!” can’t hurt. Remember, impressing your friends is the first step to becoming a connoisseur.

4. Taste

It’s finally time to drink. Compile all the colors and aromas you’ve found so far and take a sip. It is important to roll the wine around in your mouth and even chew it a bit. One of the markings of a good wine is a great beginning and a stellar finish.

Fun Fact:

Ice Wines: This dessert wine is quickly becoming popular around the world, and Iowa is one of the premiere regions to make it. The grapes are harvested at temperatures around minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit and quickly processed to create a thick, sweet nectar.

Iowa connection: Local vineyards

Other wineries in central Iowa:

Eagle City Winery – Iowa Falls

Jasper Winery – Newton

John Ernest Vineyard & Winery – Tama

La Vida Loca Winery – Indianola

Sugar Grove – Newton

Summerset Winery – Indianola

White Oak Vineyards – Cambridge

Other Notes:

Wine production can be dangerous. To see an example, go to YouTube.com

MUSIC AND A GLASS OF WINE:

The jazz and blues-inspired Andy Schneider Trio will play from 3 to 6 p.m. Aug. 27 at Prairie Moon Winery.

Cyclone Liquors offers wine class

Connoisseurs can develop their wine-tasting talents. An Introduction to Wines will be offered Sept. 20 and Nov. 15 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Iowa State also offers an Introduction to Beverages course. HRI 383 will be taught this fall by Stewart Burger from 2:10 – 3:50 p.m. on Thursdays.