What Should I Drink Next?

This is a question that comes to every wine enthusiast at one point or another: what should I drink next?

You could always spend an hour slowly walking along the aisles of your local wine shop, seeing what catches your eye, what looks unfamiliar, perhaps even asking the cellarhand what they might recommend.

The obvious weakness here is that you might succumb to bias, no matter how slight, no matter how hard you try to be objective and claim to want to try “something new”. When making a decision becomes too difficult, it is always easier to fall back onto old favourites.

There’s nothing wrong with sticking to what you know, but eventually you’ll feel limited and want to explore greener pastures.

Thankfully, someone else has already done the hard work for you…

The Academic Approach

Whilst browsing various sites and studying various wine subjects I came across these little gems, and am ashamed I hadn’t found them sooner:

• CMS Probable List of Examinable White Grape Varieties
• CMS Probable List of Examinable Red Grape Varieties

The CMS is, of course, the Court of Master Sommeliers, with whom I passed their Certified Examination some time ago.

White Wines

Albariño

• Spain – Rías Baixas

Chardonnay

• France – Chablis, Côte d’Or, Mâconnais
• USA – California (Carneros, Central Coast, Napa Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley)
• Australia – Victoria, Padthaway, Adelaide Hills, Western Australia)

Chenin Blanc

• Loire Valley – Montlouis, Savennières, Vouvray (Sec, Demi-Sec)

Gewürztraminer

• Alsace – (VT, Grand Cru, Vin d’Alsace)

• Austria – Kamptal, Kremstal, Wachau (Dry to Medium Dry Styles Only)

• Alsace – (Grand Cru, Vin d’Alsace)
• Italy – Friuli, Trentino-Alto Adige
• Oregon – Willamette Valley

Riesling

• Germany – Mosel, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Nahe (Trocken, 1st Crus, QbA, Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese)
• France – Alsace (Grand Cru, Vin d’Alsace)
• Austria – Kamptal, Kremstal, Wachau
• Australia – Clare Valley, Eden Valley (Dry Styles Only)

• France – Loire Valley (Central Vineyards), Bordeaux (Pessac-Léognan, Graves)
• USA – California (Napa / Sonoma – Oaked Styles Only)
• New Zealand – All Regions

Torrontés

• Argentina – Salta / Catamarca

Viognier

• France – Condrieu
• USA – California (Central Coast – Oaked and Unoaked Styles)

Red Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

• France – Bordeaux – Graves, Médoc (Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien) (Bordeaux AOC to First Growth)
• Australia – Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Margaret River, McLaren Vale)
• Chile – Central Valley – Curicó, Maipo, Maule, Rapel
• USA – California (All Napa, All Sonoma, Central Coast); Washington (Columbia Valley)

• France – Loire Valley – Bourgueil, Chinon, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil (No new oak)

Carménère

• Chile – Central Valley – Curicó, Maipo, Maule, Rapel

Corvina-Based Blend

• Italy – Veneto – Amarone, Valpolicella (Dry to Off-Dry)

Gamay Noir

• France – Beaujolais (Cru Beaujolais, Villages) (Carbonic Maceration to No Carbonic Maceration)

Grenache and Grenache-Based Blends

• France – Rhône Valley (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras)
• Australia – South Australia

Malbec

• Argentina – Mendoza

Merlot and Merlot-Based Blends

• France – Bordeaux (Pomerol, Saint-Émilion)
• USA – California (Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley); Washington (Columbia Valley)

Nebbiolo

• Italy – Piedmont (Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara (Normale and Riserva)

• France – Burgundy (Côte d’Or)
• USA – California (Anderson Valley, Carneros, Central Coast, Sonoma Coast/Valley); Oregon (Willamette Valley)
• New Zealand – Central Otago, Marlborough, Martinborough

Sangiovese

• Italy – Tuscany – Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Classico, Riserva, Ruffina)

Syrah

• France – Rhône Valley (Northern Rhône)
• Australia – South Australian, Victoria
• USA – California (Central Coast, Sonoma County); Washington (Columbia Valley)

Tempranillo

• Spain – Ribera del Duero, Rioja (Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva)

Zinfandel

• USA – California – Napa Valley, Paso Robles, Sonoma Valley (Dry to Medium-Dry)

Conclusions

Even if you aren’t committed to becoming a sommelier, both of the above lists provide a comprehensive coverage of wine regions and styles throughout the world. If I were you, I would print myself a copy and tick off each one as I taste through them.

Myself, I can see how much of the world of wine I have already experienced, and how much further I need to go.

If there is one criticism I might have, it’s that there’s a lack of guidance for exploring sparkling wines and rosé wines. I can only conclude that they do not want to make life too easy for us.

If you are interested in other CMS resources, check out the following link – https://www.mastersommeliers.org/resources

Read more: How Much Does A Sommelier Need To Know?