For the next twelve weeks I’m writing a wine lifestyle column for Southern Oregon’s World of Wine. Writing about wine, it turns out, is very eye-opening.
Southern Oregon? Wine?
As I’ve been writing about wine, I’ve discovered that there’s a growing wine industry in our region. Fertile soil with diverse microclimates that was once used for growing peaches and pears is being converted into vineyards. This fertile soil is good for growing grapes.
California, are you listening? You’re no longer the only contenda when it comes to West Coast wines.
In Southern Oregon you can go for a wike (a wine-hiking trip).
Or become fascinated by an interesting trend that many of my foodie wine friends haven’t seen in action: no corkscrew necessary (glass corks instead!).
Next up is a column in praise of Pinot Gris. A lifelong red wine drinker, I’ve been learning to enjoy white wine ever since we spent a year in West Africa. Red wine there spoils so quickly it’s usually not palatable. And I’ll also be writing about the health benefits of conquering your fear of the unknown (you’ll see what that has to do with wine when it goes live…)
Are you a wine drinker, beer drinker, or teetotaler? Do you think about where the wine you buy is made and what varietal it is or do you just buy your bottles based on cost and how much you like the label?
Published: July 14, 2011
Last update: January 21, 2020
Living Large says
I’m primarily a beer drinker, but like a good glass of wine too. I especially like trying local wine when we’re traveling.
Alexandra says
I became a wine drinker when I moved to France, where it is hard to avoid drinking wine at meals. Biggest wine-related thrill: drinking a wine that was the same age as me, a dusty old bottle that from a friend’s personal wine cellar.
Sheryl says
What a fun assignment you have. I love red wine but being a lightweight in the drinking department forces me to stop at just one glass. A good thing, I think.
Casey@Good. Food. Stories. says
Wine drinker, beer drinker, Campari drinker, and more here – I love pairing food and spirits, and thinking about the composition of a drink in the same way as I think about ingredients for a dish. There’s so much to learn!
Kerry Dexter says
I tend to us wine for cooking more than for drinking, but of course that involves tasting it — and yes, I do think about where wines come from and enjoy learning about how winemakers think and how wineries operate. looking forward to more of your wine columns.
Kristen says
I’m not a wine drinker myself, is there anything for teetotalers to do in wine country? It’s like a non-golfer getting a tour of pebble beach…
Jennifer Margulis says
Kristen, I think visiting vineyards is fun even without the wine tasting part. A lot of boutique vineyards also sell local produce and locally crafted cheeses, that kind of thing. In Oregon some of the vineyards have nice cafes where you can sit outside and eat lunch, and if you come for lunch you are welcome to go for a walk or hike on the property…
More on that in my NYT article about wine hiking:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/travel/wiking-in-oregon-combining-hiking-and-wine-tasting.html
merr says
What a list, Jennifer! Fun to read!
Vera Marie Badertscher says
My doctor says “no wine no more.” I still hang out at wine sellers and look longingly at the labels, and agree that wine country can be enjoyed for its scenery and usually good restaurants spring up where wine is being grown.
Jeanine Barone says
I only drink wine (never beer or hard liquor) and I also write about wine so it’s fun to read your column. Unlike many of my wine drinking friends and colleagues, I often prefer white wine.