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"No Wine Before Nine" is what the clock on my wall says. Of Course, every digit on the clock is a "9". Nevertheless, drinking wine does not necessarily have anything to do with evaluating the wine you drink-at least not in terms of its "credibility" as a fine wine. After all, I "Ripple" is still a major seller in the United States.

The best way to decide on the wine you would like, and simultaneously be able to appreciate, is by becoming familiar with different grapes, their growing seasons, and the region in which those grapes grow best. For example, for my money, their is no better place to grow pinot noir or chardonnay than in the Santa Barbara wine country-Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Rita Hills. The cool breeze from the ocean along the mountain passes and the warm valley sun makes for a superb combination.

All of this presupposes you enjoy a great pinot and/or chardonnay. Familiarize yourself with the grape-then learn about the region in which they grow best. Its that simple. Cabernet? Look to the very warm and dry Napa Valley. Zinfandel? The counties of Amador and El Dorado about one hour south of Lake Tahoe is the finest growing region for "Zin" anywhere in my opinion. Study the grape-then the region in which it grows-that simple.

As for the pairings, a quick lesson: steaks crave a great Pinot or Cabernet. Fish and poultry yearn for a fabulous Chardonnay-one that is rich and buttery. A great Zinfandel can pair with a rich poultry dish, chicken or pork, as well as a great cut of beef.

These are the wines I enjoy the most. There are many other pairings and even taste analysis one could delve into-but if you truly believe their should be "No Wine Before Nine", than the experimentation must be left up to the taster. All you have to do is taste the grape and "palatize" it-than go to the regions of their respective fame to decide which wineries complete your education.

Learn more about this author, Colin Preseley.
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