John & Dorothy's Wine Things for 2009

The WSJ wine critics have compiled a delightful list of things to do wine-wise for the year ahead. Thoughtful and fun items here. Seems like a good start. If you have some others to consider, make up your list and comment here.



Here's the list. Go to the Journal article to read the explanations for each task.
1. Try a Wine From a Different Country
2. Go to a Wine Bar and Have a Flight of Wine
3. Order the Cheapest Wine on a Restaurant's Wine List
4. Open a Sparkler at Home for No Reason at All
5. Take Notes on a Fine Wine From Beginning to End
6. Have a Sauternes
7. Have a Blind Tasting
8. Organize Your Labels (for us it's corks)
9. Visit the Closest Winery to Your Home
10. Attend a Winemaker's Dinner at a Restaurant
11. Have Fun With Stemware
12. Find a New Wine Store
13. Try a Varietal You've Never Had From a U.S. Winery
14. Either: Have 12 Different Bottles in the House at Once
14a. Or: Drink Up
15. Go Crazy on a Wine Pairing for Dinner Some Night
16. Try an Older White
16. Try a Type of Wine You Think You Don't Like
18. Get a New Corkscrew
19. Serve a Dessert Wine to Guests
20. Shatter Your Price Limit

Extra Credit
If you have never dropped us a note to say hello or ask a question, don't be shy. Our email address is wine@wsj.com and while we can't respond to all notes, we do our best.

A Case for Beaujolais

Dorothy and John at WSJ (one of the few good things remaining since Rupert Murdoch's makeover) are eschewing their former mantra of "buy one expensive bottle" to treat a good friend, and going the route of grabbing a mixed case of something far more enjoyable on a day-to-day basis. Get them a mixed case of a simpler wine, Beaujolais, to be more specific.

This isn't the novelty of the Nouveau variety. That yearly tradition is upcoming soon, but an entirely different premise as it's the very youngest wine, and meant for the instant gratification of a quick drink around the holidays.

No, this idea centers on finding a batch of the regular Beaujolais and letting someone you like explore mutliple bottles of a wine equally at home w/ a cheese plate as macaroni and cheese. We'd opt for a nice white cheddar, and yes, GOOD crackers.

Here's their review of some of the tastier bottles they found in their quest.