I know it sounds implausible, but us wine folks could learn a thing or two from our beer-imbibing brothers and sisters, especially during the summer.
This revelation came to me at a recent show at the Chastain Park Amphitheatre. As I scanned the fold-up tables bestrewn with cheeses, salads and various forms of finger foods, I noticed something curious. There were many bottles of wine (mostly red, but quite a number of white) standing proudly on those tables.
Normally, the sight of so many people simply enjoying wine and sharing so freely puts a smile on my face (a special shout-out to Steve from Tallahassee, Fla., for a generous pour of his 2009 Bordeaux). But here’s the thing: While always appreciated for the gesture, 90-degree red wine is icky ... and tepid white or pink wines ain’t much better.
Beer folk would never be caught without a trusty ice chest or some device to keep their sudsy, hopped beverage cool even in the face of a muggy, hot Atlanta night.
What’s the take-home message here? Whether you bring your own or buy wine at the concert, bring a small cooler to keep your red and white wines closer to 50 than they are to 90 degrees. Do not worry if the reds come out of the ice chest too cold. The thick, ambient temperatures of July and August will fix that in short order. If you’re not pouring the wine, put it back in the chest.
You might be quietly asking yourself at this point if it is OK to put an ice cube or two in your wine, especially on a hot, muggy night. Well, of course, it is! You’re at an outdoor concert in the summer, and you’re likely drinking out of a plastic cup. This is not exactly a coronation dinner. Will the melting ice dilute the flavors of the wines? Yeah. So what?
As the designated wine guy, I am always happy to bring a nice selection of usual and unique wines to share at Chastain. I take great pleasure in sharing my wealth of wine. (Take notice, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre and Lakewood Amphitheatre, which insist concertgoers purchase beer and wine on-site from limited and uninspired menus.) Chastain and the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in Mableton allow responsible adults to bring their own.
Even though Chastain is OK with a guy like me who lugs as many as 10 bottles through the gate (By the way, I always leave with several. I’m into having a selection, not overindulging.), I am impressed by the wine offerings at Atlanta’s oldest outdoor concert venue. Even though Chastain does not have choices as eclectic as mine, I give the wine program two thumbs way up for selection and price.
They have no fewer than 17 choices, including wines from South Africa, Chile, Australia and California. Most bottles are $23, with the La Capra Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa on the high side at $33. Selected wines by the glass go for $6 each. Granted these prices are about triple what you’d find at retail, but that is not an insane markup. Don’t forget: You are a captive audience. And, if their selections or prices don’t suit you, they let you bring your own.
So whether it’s at Chastain or at any number of the outdoor concert events, raise a glass to summer. Just make sure the wine inside is cooler than what Mother Nature wants it to be.
Gil Kulers is a certified wine educator and a wine consultant for Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits. You can reach him at gil.kulers@winekulers.com.
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