Swigging Index

Although I completely agree that most people feel like drinking different types of wine in varying degrees of weather, I do think that recommending wine based on actual temperature ranges is taking it a little too far.

As I was absentmindedly flipping through channels on Sunday morning, I came across a Today Show segment called "The Right Wine for the Right Weather" with Anthony Giglio of Food and Wine magazine. The segment was based on what wine to drink when the mercury hits different levels, such as Markham Chardonnay when the temperature is somewhere between 80 and 90 degrees. When the weather hits 100 degrees or more (I think; I was a little
distracted by the absurdity of it all) Giglio advises thirsty souls to turn to beer instead of wine, Stella Artois to be exact.

Believe me, I realize that it is difficult to find something interesting and useful to talk about, blog about, even tweet about, day after day, but I struggle to understand how pairing wine with degrees Fahrenheit is in any way eye opening for consumers. Whether you are someone who knows very much or very little about wine, I am guessing that if you are relaxing outside on a hot, humid day contemplating a drink, the first thought that comes to mind is not a dark, brooding Cabernet Sauvignon. Frankly, if that is what comes to mind -- and I have seen overflowing glasses of Cabernet happily consumed on many a porch in Florida during the summer -- no one is going to impose a "rule" that is going tomake any difference.

I can see it now on my AccuWeather.com app:
Temperature: 92
Humidity: 87%
Dewpoint: 64
Winds: NW at 25 mph
Swigging Index: Gruner Veltliner

Hmmm, I think I may be warming up to the idea. What do you think?

Cheers!