WELCOME TO Cheap Buzz, where we eavesdrop as sommelier Marnie Old attempts to teach the joys of wine and fine spirits to Buzz, a guy with no sophistication and not much money. Here's their latest conversation:
BUZZ: Hey, Marnie. What's with these peanut wines I keep seeing at the State Store? I thought wines were made with grapes.
MARNIE: Peanut wine? I've never heard of it, Buzz. Are you seeing pink elephants, too?
BUZZ: I thought you were a wine expert! I saw white peanut wine from Italy and red peanut wine from France. But even the California kind tried to sound all fancy by using the French spelling: p-i-n-o-t, I think it was.
MARNIE: Oh, you mean pinot, Buzz. Pinot is the name of a family of wine grapes. The most popular is pinot grigio, the "gray pinot," from northern Italy. There are other pinots, too — all native to Burgundy in France. That's why winemakers use their French names — pinot noir, pinot blanc and pinot gris — even when they're planted in California.
BUZZ: I don't get it. Why would Frenchmen name their grapes and wines after peanuts?
MARNIE: Pinot refers to pine trees, not peanuts. Pinot grape clusters are shaped like pine cones. The second word tells you about their color. Pinot noir, the "black pinot," is the highest in quality, a dark purple grape used for making medium-bodied dry red wines.
BUZZ: OK, I get it. But, having to use those French names makes it sound all la-di-da. I wouldn't be embarrassed to order the stuff if they just called it "Black Pine."
MARNIE: Sorry, Buzz. Pinot noir is so well-known and so delicious, I don't think they'll rename it anytime soon. It has become hugely popular in recent years because it is softer and lighter than many other reds and has pleasing, earthy aromatics. It tastes great with lighter foods, like grilled fish or tomato pastas, not just with red meats. You should try it sometime.
BUZZ: I will. With a bag of roasted peanuts.