It happens sometimes. A guest walks up to the Tasting Counter and announces, “I only like Chardonnay.” The ball is in the server’s court (no pun intended) and the goal is to give this guest the best wine tasting experience of their life. If the server is lucky, Ponte Chardonnay is available to taste, and then he or she only has to suggest five more that might please the guest. If Chard is sold out, well, they start at square minus one.
This isn’t a tragedy, it’s a challenge and it’s a challenge that can (and usually does!) end well. The trick is to start with wines with similar characteristics to the favorite wine.
Are you an “I only like (blank)” person? May we make the following suggestions…
“I only like Chardonnay” – Try Angry Wife White. It is a blended white wine, however, it is medium to full-bodied which is what many Chardonnays are. It has a nice oak finish which may remind you of your favorite Chard. If you like the suggestion, move onto Arneis, a medium-bodied and crisp white.
“I only like Cabernet Sauvignon” – Try Zinfandel. You obviously enjoy powerful red wines, and our 100% estate grown Zinfandel is boldness in a bottle. If you like it, try Super T, considered a bold red, but with a slightly lighter body than the Cab and Zin.
“I only like sweet wines” – You’re a white zinfandel fan, right? Try Beverino or Vernaccia Nera. Surprise, they are both red! Both of these wines carry pleasant, not cloying, sweetness. Despite the sweet, they still taste like wine, not kool aid. If you like either of these, move onto Fiorella if it is available. It looks like white zin, but it is considerably drier with excellent fruit character.
“I only like Merlot” – Try Meritage. It is a blended red wine that includes Merlot plus four other red grape varietals. It is dry, like Merlot, but with a complexity that can’t be matched. If you like it, try Angry Wife Red, another one of our blended red wines.
One of two things will now happen: 1. You love the new wine! 2. You still only like (blank). Hey, if it’s the latter, we’re okay with that. In the end, if you’re enjoying yourself at Ponte, then all is well. At least you tried…and so did we.
We hope to see you at Ponte wine tasting soon!
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