April Fool’s has always made me smile. From small pranks to elaborate ruses, I love the frivolity of the day. But there are several wine myths that can make us feel, well, like an April Fool, if we don’t know the truth behind them. Below are a few wine myths that are particularly salient in the spring months as they revolve around sparkling, white, and rosé wines.
Myth No. 1: Chardonnay wines are always buttery and have lots of oak notes.
Chardonnay is a white grape of international importance. It’s a ubiquitous variety grown across the globe and most importantly, it’s made into a wide variety of styles. From a bold, buttery, and oaky style to a chiseled, unoaked wine bursting of citrus and green apple, Chardonnay is a grape with many faces. I typically say if you don’t like Chardonnay, you just haven’t tried enough of them because they are so variable in style. An entry level village Chablis (a region in France known for producing Chardonnay) will be a great starting point for exploring an unoaked, non-buttery Chardonnay style.
Myth No. 2: Rosé wine is always sweet.
Pink doesn’t automatically mean sweet in the wine world. While White Zinfandel is sweet and is pink, there’s a whole world of dry rosé. Provence, France is the homeland of this style, but you can find them almost anywhere these pink-hued beauties are crafted.
Myth No. 3: White wines and rosés should be served ice cold.
While white and rosé wines benefit from some chilling, serving them too cold does them a disservice. Served at frigid temperatures, say straight out of the refrigerator, the aromas and flavors of the wine are compromised and can’t be enjoyed as readily. Letting the wine warm up to 45-50 degrees is ideal for ensuring your glass of vino is expressive and remains refreshing.
Myth No. 4: Screwcap wines are all cheap and low quality.
In addition to being easy to serve and save, screwcap wines come in a variety of quality levels. From simple, everyday drinking wines to high end reds you’ll find screwcaps used on a wide variety of wines. Screwcaps are not only convenient, but also avoid some wine faults that can make your wine taste less than fresh.
Myth No. 5: A spoon placed in a bottle of sparkling wine will keep the bubbles in the wine.
This one gets a big “guffaw” from me. As an old wives’ tale, putting a spoon in a bottle of sparkling wine will not keep the bubbles in solution. If you’re looking to preserve your sparkling wine once open, invest in a sparkling wine stopper ($5) and you’ll be able to keep the fizz in for up to three to four days.
There are many myths in the wine world that can make us look like, well, a pack of fools. But by dispelling these spring wine myths, you can avoid being duped and build your wine knowledge. Cheers!
Kathryn House McClaskey is the Founder of House of Wine. She can be reached via email at: kat@houseofwineco.com.
