Does this fit your experiences with wines?

Question

During a meeting at work, it was suggested that most wine consumers follow a similar path of wine explorations.

1)Start out drinking modest whites that have some residual sugars to them.
2)Stretching out into drier whites.
3)Sudden switch to big chewy reds, to the exclusion of whites.
4)Loving one varietal and then the next.
5) Developing a desire to know more about wines and wine production.
6)A slow shift back to finely crafted whites and more subtle reds.

Although this is very similar to my experiences, I can't believe that most people do the same. It's too patterned.

Manic,
I am a wine merchant and if you're not a wine drinker then obviously the pattern won't apply.

Answer 1

I have followed the exact pattern. But, if I may, add one more waypoint...

7) A more relaxed attitude about 'what' one is drinking which leads to altogether much more enjoyment.

I've been in the wine biz for 21 years now and have seen pretty much all levels of wine lover; from neophyte to abhorrent snob and back to humble wine lover. I prefer the latter these days.

Answer 2

There is a great deal of truth in this, and its very much my own experience.

I'd add in to the starter wines sweetish pink wines (in my day Mateus Rose - for many new drinkers now 'white' Zinfandel and other blush wines).

I think the switch to reds is more gradual (personally went to the leaner red Bordeaux).

I wonder how much the non-alcohol drinking habits of young people are affecting their tastes. It used to be that when in ones teens one started drinking teas & coffee, ones tastes getting drier. But now it seems that drinking carbonated very sweet drinks (coke etc) continues way past the teens. Hence, no doubt, fuellingall those questions here asking for suggestions for red wines that are not 'bitter'. There's six spoonfuls of sugar in a can of coke, so any dry red wine will be a shocker to a coke drinker.

Answer 3

That is absolutely me to a T !! How funny. It's exactly what my sister and I have done together, actually. Neither of us were big wine drinkers and we thought we'd explore it a little together after trying to find a suitable wine for a special dinner one night. Now we have wine, cheese and bread nights where we leave the hubbies and kids at one of our houses. I agree very much with the path of wine explorations you have up there...

Answer 4

That hypothesis is bull! I was weaned on assertive reds, and found the pallette I like on my own. I can't stomach a Cab anymore because I got so involved in the '78s and '86s . I have never liked Chardonnay unless it is blended with Semillon.
throw all of this out the window as you read on...

Turns out I am more of a beer guy (hophead and home brewer for 15 years) than a viniphile, but I do enjoy a casual bottle of wine on occasion. I enjoy a varietal Valdigiue with the proper foods, but due to experience I will stick with real ales for pure pleasure. They mesh with foods better and the contrast of styles appears much greater.

Bottom line: Throw the marketing out the window and drink what you find you like.

Answer 5

beneficial it could have an result on your bronchial allergies, even regardless of the undeniable fact that in basic terms do no longer drink too much of it. the explanation why you get problems off it , is once you think approximately that the alcohol point is fundamental, there is hardly any water, so your physique turns into dehydrated, drink some wine and in the previous than you bypass to mattress drink a pint of water and you would be terrific interior the morning, have faith me it works like a gem.

Answer 6

I've always preferred a drier red wine.

Answer 7

Not for me

Have never been a fan of sweet whites at all.

I'll stick to my reds and dry whites

Answer 8

very similar, but never could develpoe a taste for thick reds

Answer 9

For me, the longer I drink it, the less sweet I like it.