Here’s a great way to make the Olympic games that begin today more interesting. Make sure to have plenty of alcohol ready before you thy this drinking game. I prefer the Scarface game, where you have to drink every time someone drops an f-bomb, but that’s probably because I’m such a traditionalist.

I bought this bottle a while back and got drunk and forgot to open it. So it sat around for about a week. I opened it the other night after Fiona and I shared a bottle of Gavi. I wasn’t overwhelmed initially. It was good, but I’d had better. But, there was something about it. It took a couple of glasses to figure out what was going on, and it kinda freaked me out.

A quick disclaimer. I’m not a wine and food pairing person. Being a beer drinker for so many years conditioned me for drinking first, then eating. After all, beer is quite filling on it’s own. Add a meal on top of a six pack, and there’s no room left to continue drinking. At a typical Weezer barbecue, food would not be served until I was done drinking. People were so hungry that they loved whatever I served them.

Things have changed a little now. It’s relaxing to have a nice bottle of wine with a tasty meal. We have several BYOB restaurants around town that we enjoy. I’ll save a bottle to open up with a nice steak or fish that I’ve grilled. But give me three or four glasses before the food is ready and my dinner is coming home in a doggy bag. I’ll drink my dessert, please.

That’s what amazed me about the Rioja. As I dove further into the bottle, I craved something to eat with it. Namely, a steak and some pasta. There was this spicy taste to the wine that cried out for food. It was like dancing the tango by yourself. This Rioja needed a partner, and unfortunately, I had nothing but frozen pizza and chicken chunks to offer as companions.

I made pasta last night and thought about that bottle of wine. I wasn’t really in a drinking mood, but it would have been nice to have a glass of the Glorioso around to test my theory. I’m sure it would have been good. Maybe next time.

Australian wine exports have slacked off by 100 million liters this year. American consumption of their wines was down 25%. That’s pretty wild. I have to apologize to winemakers from Down Under. Before my Francophelia kicked in, most of my red consumption was in the form of Australian magnums. The Aussies make very drinkable wines at affordable prices, especially Shiraz and Merlot. They are a great choice for parties and anytime large quantities will be consumed. I’ve always held a certain fondness for Australia, so I plan on doing my share. We cannot forsake the country that contributed Beds are Burning to the world.

So I get home today and Fiona’s popping the cap on her second Miller Lite. I did a double take, but managed to compose myself before I walked back outside and checked the address on the house. “I’m having a beer, want one?” At the time, I was too confused to add alcohol to the mix, but shortly afterward we were having a couple of brews at the bar and grill down the road.

“I just wasn’t feeling like winies, but I needed a drink.” she explained to me as we perused the menu, “Is that strange?” Many would say no, but this was FionaGrigio, who is primarily responsible for bringing JohnnyWino into existence. “I’m just not used to you drinking beer. I like this side of you.” We took advantage of happy hour prices for a couple more rounds and decided grilling at home was our best option for dinner.

I like drinking beer with my wife. Usually, this suggests that it is still early in the day and we’re outdoors. Wine is a fine beverage, but it’s best in the evenings and doesn’t cooperate with ice chests. She really enjoyed having a few on the beach when we were in Florida. We split a 12 pack at Scroggins on the 4th of July. I’m hoping she’ll have a few drafts at the Texans game on Saturday. Fiona drinking beer means we’re doing something out of the ordinary.

I have not forsaken wine. There’s nothing I enjoy more than sharing a bottle over dinner or sitting on the back porch chillin’ with some pinot in the chiller. I even thought about opening a bottle last night when we got home. We are all about wine. But beer is a nice diversion once and a while.

When I first read about this movie, I wasn’t too excited. Now that I’ve seen the trailer, I can’t wait. It’s based on the 1976 “Judgment of Paris” in which American Chardonnays and Cabernet Savignons were pitted against their French counterparts. The movie chronicles the journey of Steven Spurrier, a British wine merchant who travels to the US to squash the notion that California had begun producing wine that rivaled the French. It’s showing in an hour, but I’ll probably wait until the weekend before I go see it. Currently, it’s not playing at either of the Alamo Drafthouses, which is a shame. This is the ideal movie for that setting.

Last weekend when I went out for wine, I grabbed what I like. I didn’t feel like trying something new; I didn’t care how it paired with what I was eating, or what others thought about the wine I chose. I just wanted to sit down with a glass in my hand and enjoy. Since I began this blog, I’ve been going out of my way to expand my knowledge and palate. It’s been nice, but I think I’m going to settle into a routine that’s a little more…me.

I drank the same beer for close to twenty years. I never really felt the need to change. I’m a very pragmatic person. It was nice to walk into Spec’s and pick out exactly what I wanted and leave. I didn’t need any help; I didn’t wander around aimlessly for a half-hour second guessing my decisions; I didn’t buy something I didn’t really care for and have to drink it anyway. I was in and out. I spent my night conversing with my wife and listening to music. Relaxed.

Don’t worry, this is not the end of JohnnyWino by any means. Quite the opposite. I began this journey a little over two months ago. We’ve been through a few twists and turns, along with several bottles of wine. In the process, I’ve learned a few things about wine, but even more about myself. I’ve rediscovered my love for writing, something that had eluded me for several years. I’ve reaffirmed my fondness for wine. I’ve reexamined the social contexts that are associated with drinking wine. I’ve reevaluated my direction as a wine drinker.

To those who have been with me from the beginning, thank you for sticking with me while I created and developed a persona for this JohnnyWino character. He will continue to be there to inform and entertain in his own special way. However, he will become less of the folktale legend I originally envisioned, and more of the everyday guy that I am. For those who have recently found JohnnyWino. Stay tuned. JohnnyWino will never change the world, but he’ll do his best to put a smile on your face and keep you thinking.

The number of people who prefer to drink beer is rising, according to the results of the latest Gallup Poll. The yearly poll determined that 42% of US drinkers will usually grab a beer, while 31% cited wine as their preferred drink. This marks the first time since 2002 that beer has gained a 10 point lead over wine. In 2005, wine actually surpassed beer as the American drink of choice (39%-36%). However, beer has made a steady comeback since then.

There are several possible reasons for the return to pilsner prominence. One writer contributes the spike in ‘02 to the movie Sideways. A friend who worked for Glacier said that they could not keep Pinot Noir on the shelves, while practically having to give away Merlot. Personally I feel this angle is weak, but I did enjoy the movie. I was already drinking wine by then, but it did help solidify my preference.

Americans love food, and wine gave them another aspect to their meals. Pairing food and wine became a sport to many, and beer was left behind. Even Flavor Flav was in, “White wine is for fish, and red wine goes with salads.” Brewers noticed, and have now begun to market varieties that can be paired with foods also.

I hate to get all political on my readers, but I think the biggest factor has to be the economy. Alcohol is a luxury item. The poll shows that frequency of consumption decreases as income drops. With the dollar being weak and gas prices soaring, there’s just not enough left to throw down $25 a bottle. Especially when you can buy a case of beer for the same price. Age is also a factor. In the under 30 crowd, wine came in a distant third at 19%, compared with beer’s 45% and liquor’s 33%.

What does all this mean? Not much. Beer has and most likely always will be tops in America. It is immediately associated with all our favorite pastimes: barbeque, football, the beach… I think wine has done a fine job of establishing itself in the market recently, and will continue to grow among the more mature crowd. To me, it’s a lifestyle thing. I wasn’t ready for wine when I was 25 or even 30. But today, it has become a part of me.