I'll be cooking some skirt steak and would like a nice glass of wine to relax tonight. What would you recommend? I don't know anything about wine but I'm thinking about dropping beer for the most part and switching over to wine so I'd like to start learning. Also is an aerator a necessity?
IMHO, it depends on how you're going to season it. Yes, you want a red wine. But, if you're going easy on the spices or going with the herbals like parsley, cilantro, mint (a great combo, btw), then go with a lighter red like a Pinot Noir or a chianti. If you're going heavier on the spices, black pepper, garlic, chili, etc. then go with a stonger red like a cab or a shiraz. Just my two cents. Basically, you don't want the wine to overpower the taste of the steak (and marinade) and vice versa. For the bonus round: puree together garlic, kosher salt, cilanto, basil, and mint, black pepper in olive oil and marinade that steak for a couple hours. Reserve (before soaking the meat) some for a side sauce. Everything is in proportion to taste.
The steak is just going to be seasoned with salt and pepper and cooked in olive oil. Any recommendations on a specific bottle hopefully under 20? I suppose I could just choose a random bottle within those two reds and figure out what I do and don't like.
I much prefer reds over whites. so, I would get the Better Reds. But, the Whites here are also very nice. My mom got the reds as a xmas present today.
I've had some great luck choosing random bottles. It's fun and you sometimes find a real gem. I have also learned that price tag means nothing. I've had some excellent $7 bottles and I've had some awful 20 + dollar bottles.
if you're going to buy the wine and not use something you have around, ask the guy at the counter what he recommends.
Seghesio zinfandel at just under $20, or McMannis cab for less than $10. Either will pair well with the beef. I had a bottle of the McMannis with a grilled ribeye just last night. Wonderful dinner.
Right now, Apothic Dark is still in stores. It's a great red for a great price. Dropping beer? You're drinking the wrong beer.
I was thinking about Ravenswood cab after reading a review on it but I might go for the Mcmantis. Also I'll be getting it from the grocery store so nobody to really ask for recommendations. I found this wine club I also considered for the future but I might just take chances shopping myself. Thanks for the help so far.
It took me awhile to find either of the bottles I was looking for, but once I did they were only several bottles apart. I think it was a sign to just buy both of them.
So I poured a little right after opening the bottle to try then poured a regular glass through an aerator. Wow....I won't pour another glass without one or at least using a decanter. I honestly didn't think this 8 dollar device would do much but I'm glad I grabbed it.
Champagne, or sparkling wine as it's called when it's not from France, is carbonated wine. I am not brand conscious and love mid-priced, USA produced, extra dry or Brut.