Wine Time
By Nikki Myers
As a bartender, I get to bear witness to all kinds of quarrels: broken hearts, scandals, and playful bickering among friends. Of course, it’s our duty as servers to be seen and not heard in these matters, remaining impartial and keeping the drinks flowing. But with one squabble in particular I find myself eager to intervene – Beer vs. Wine.
In the great Beer vs. Wine debate, I typically see people choosing a side and sticking firmly to it. You may expect me to be here making a case for wine as the superior choice; this is a wine column, after all. But I’m actually here to (hopefully) bring both worlds together for a brief moment of harmony. As a wine-lover with many loved ones deeply rooted in the craft beer community, I’ve found a selection of wines that please even the most loyal beer palate.
The obvious choices are, of course, bubbly. Cava is a Spanish sparkling similar to Champagne. Try Avinyo Brut Cava ($20.99), one of my all-time favorites in the region, or Kila Cava ($15.99). Good sparkling is also available in cans these days, which will further convince the beer devotee that the two aren’t so different after all. Scarpetta’s Frico Frizzante and Lambrusco (which has just a touch of sweetness) are both available in 4 packs for $11.99.
If full bubbles aren’t the vibe you’re going for, you’ll also find some wines with gentle effervescence – enough to satisfy the need, but not overwhelming. Wines from Txakoli (pronounced CHOC-o-lee) are crisp, tart, and refreshing with the tiniest hint of bubbles. Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina ($22.99) and Antxiola Txakolina Rosado ($16.99) are great options.
From Portugal, you’ll also find Vinho Verde with these same lively characteristics. This is a reliable and inexpensive style of wine – all the more reason to love it! Some favorites are the Casa do Valle Vinho Verde ($11.49) and the old reliable Famega or Famega Rose ($9.99).
Moving away from bubbly wine entirely, there are still some great options for beer lovers based on flavor profile alone. I’ve found that moderate-acid, low-tannin wines are the most likely to agree with hesitant wine drinkers. Try Bonnets Blancs Muscadet ($16.99), Tablelands Sauvignon Blanc ($13.49), or Montinore Almost Dry Riesling ($15.99).
At the end of the day, we all like what we like and I wouldn’t try to sway a beer-lover away from their drink of choice. There’s always value in trying something new, however, and I’m here to help you start that journey off right. If you’ve got any lingering questions to help make that happen, I’m an email away at
nmyers@passionvines.com. Cheers!
Nikki serves as Event Leader and Educator at Passion Vines Wine & Spirit Company, which has provided her countless resources on her wine journey. She estimates that she knows approximately .001% of all there is to know about wine (most notably, the fact that there is an infinite amount of things to know about wine). Most nights, she can be found sipping quirky dry reds from obscure regions.
