Everyday Sommelier F e b r u a r y / M a r c h 2 0 1 8 6 9 Flip the Script It’s time to break out of your old habits and launch into a new world of wine. By Ralph Hersom Pouilly - Fuisse or Bourgogne Blanc Gruner Veltliner Pinot Blanc, Alsace Verdicchio S a uvignon Blanc Chardonnay Burgundy/ Chorey Les Beaune or Bourogne Rougev Bordeaux Blend Beaujolais Villages Crozes- Hermitage C a b Sauvignon/Syrah California Pino t N o i r Have you spent the past few months slowly forgetting your resolution to drink less? There’s no shame in it. But do you find yourself buying the same bottle of wine over and over? What I’d like my readers to aim for is to drink more interesting wines; wines that might be outside your comfort zone. I’ve devised an easy cheat sheet to release you from your rut. Why not venture to your favorite restaurant, bar, or wine shop and taste some of these more unusual wine choices? Remember, like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Plan on spending at least $15-20 per bottle at retail for a qual- ity wine that dares to be a game-changer. white nights Perhaps your current go-to is a Califor- nia Chardonnay? Then you probably gravi- tate toward a fuller-bodied white. Look to France for inspiration in the form of Pouil- ly-Fuisse or Bourgogne Blanc, both live- ly, nuanced alternatives. Another adventur- ous option is Pinot Blanc from the Alsace region of France. Also called clevner, Pinot Blanc is often overshadowed by its more fa- mous cousin, the Alsace Pinot Gris, but it certainly deserves your attention. Are you drawn to a Sauvignon Blanc- based wine with little-to-no oak? You clear- ly prefer a crisp white. To switch things up, try a Gruner Veltliner from Austria or an Italian white such as Verdicchio or Roero Arneis, all sure to deliver the clarity of taste you enjoy. Seeing Red When each day ends with you reaching again and again for lighter-style reds like California Pinot Noir, opt instead for a French wine from the Burgundy region. Chorey Les Beaune or a straightforward Bourgogne Rouge make a delicious alter- native. You might also try a Beaujolais Vil- lages made from the Gamay grape. If you’re ordering Cabernet Sauvignon or similarly fuller-bodied red blends at ev- ery bar and restaurant you frequent, it might be worth exploring Old World wines. Try a Bordeaux blend for an enjoyably ro- bust taste. If you prefer the flavors of the Syrah grape, look out for a bottle of Crozes- Hermitage from the Rhône region for a full and smoky glass of wine. n RalphHersomisasommelierandownerofRRHCellarsWine Consultancy.HewasformerlytheCellarmasteratWindows OnTheWorldandWineDirectorofLeCirque2000inNYC.