Why is wine considered fancier than beer/spirits?

[Inodoro_Pereyra]

As far as I know, the difference is historical, but not exactly what Redpiper mentioned. Through the middle ages, and part of the modern ages, beer, being cheap to produce, and, most importantly, being boiled, had become the beverage of choice for those (especially the lower classes) who couldn't drink the water, unless they wanted to die of cholera, or any other water transmitted disease, while wine, being more expensive to produce, and relying only on its limited alcohol content for its "antiseptic" properties, never made it to the masses. Add to that that beer, especially in the pre-hops era, was much easier and cheaper to make at home, and had naturally a less complex flavor than wine, and the outcome is not surprising.

 

[bovineblitz]

Blame the Greeks.

 

[mudcrickbrewer]

It also doesnt help when we have Keith Stone representing the beer world, haha

 

[Monstar]

A little historical, a little supply and demand. I personally think its gross.

Then again, maybe I'm just an uncultured working man. Better off that way, methinks.

 

[PaulTheGhost]

They see it as something you have to learn how to drink and appreciate.

I think this is a huge part of it.
A lot of people see all those sophistocats drinking wine all "mmmm, yes, rather delightful" and they think that they're supposed to be like that.
Then they drink it and they're like "eww that **** is dry and hot, but if some elite sophisticated dude likes it, then I guess it must be something you have to learn to appreciate it. mmmm, yes, rather..."

Personally, I think it tastes like ****. Some whites and roses are ok, but only if really cold. Champagne and sangria though.... mmmm I could chug that ****.

 

[bob1852]

There's a great excerpt from the book "Ambitious Brew" where Sam C. went up against some wine folks in a many course meal where the part of the meal was paired with either a wine or one of Dogfishhead's brews. IIRC, the beers won 6 out of the 8 placements...

 

[Rockape66]

Personally, I think the wine snobs are just crude. If they want sophistication: top notch bourbons and single malt scotches are my boat. Can't afford that very often, but I love a good ale. Like a good wine now and then; my FIL makes the best I've had.

 

[Golddiggie]

Isn't it the wine snobs that make people think that they have to drink the really expensive bottles (of wine) or the latest trend in order to be 'accepted'?? Personally, there are only a few wines I like. Fortunately there's a good liquor store not far from where I live that has a decent selection. It's no mega store, but I can usually talk with a couple of the people that work there (one of them is the owner) telling them what I like (by vinyard, type and vintage) and they will help me pick out something that I'll enjoy. But, since I've been brewing my own beer, I really haven't been going there like I used to. Also being between jobs doesn't help.

I've paid more for a single bottle of wine than I'll spend on the ingredients to make a full 5 gallon batch of home brew. Of course, since going all grain, that's not difficult to do. :rockin:

I think it's the wine snobs that also make it sound like all the really, really high ABV brews offered up by the larger breweries (not counting BMC) are what you need to buy/drink in order to get any respect... I think those are the same people that turn their noses up at mead and other fermentations we can easily make at home, that can easily be as good, if not better, than what they drink...

I say F them all (the wine snobs) with a telephone pole... Drink what you like, brew what you like and don't worry about it...

 

[PaulTheGhost]

I say F them all (the wine snobs) with a telephone pole... Drink what you like, brew what you like and don't worry about it...

Agreed.

My friend works at a tasting room in Healdsburg (yuppie tourist heaven) and she always tells me about the brand new 21 year olds going on tasting tours as a socially acceptable way to get hammered.

Either way... wine will ALWAYS seem pretentious to me (excluding boxed and bulk crap etc).

Maybe it's just because of the location I was raised in and how much bulls**t yuppiness I've had to deal with as a teenager in wine country.

Besides, no 1998 Syrah and fancy cheese with overpriced crackers can beat a few pints of a fresh hopped IPA with a 1/3 lb home cooked cheeseburger, amirite?

(Well I guess to each his own... but hey, whatever. )

 

[Golddiggie]

I don't think you'll see anyone cooking brats at a tailgate party with wine anytime soon.

There's so many really hearty foods that just SCREAM out for a beer to accompany them. :rockin:

 

[PaulTheGhost]

The only thing that I think goes good with wine is a good steak.
HOWEVER, steak also goes really well with certain beers, especially porters if the steak is salty or IPAs if the steak is really sweet.

Mmmmm, that makes me want some tri-tip.

Regardless, I'd much rather drink a pint of beer with a meal than a glass or two of wine.

 

[Hannable1975]

I always serve wine at my cookouts and parties - good cheap as heck Sangria in a pitcher , with chunks of orange, lime and lemons.

Cookout last week - floated 3 kegs of homebrew, and went through half of another and half a keg of keystone. Went through 3 gallons of the Sangria.

Yeah, no wine snob here, LOL.

 

[ericd]

Don't get me wrong, I don't one's better than the other. They're so different, it's oranges and apples.

But I'll echo the sentiments about self-proclaimed wine aficionados. They just seem to like smooth, strong (as some here have put it "bile-y") reds and dry, mineraly whites. The closer it is to those two ideals the better they seem to think it is.

There is SO much variety of wine out there, just like beer.

 

[JNye]

Beer is for everyday.

Wine is for being gay watching a chick flick with your lady.

 

[passedpawn]

Beer is for everyday.

Wine is for being gay watching a chick flick with your lady.

haters gotta hate

 

[Golddiggie]

Beer is for everyday.

Wine is for being gay watching a chick flick with your lady.

Classy...

Must be why I don't drink wine all that often (with family on holidays most of the time) but will drink beer any day of the week... :rockin:

 

[JNye]

haters gotta hate

what? I like to drink wine when I watch figure skating too.

 

[Golddiggie]

what? I like to drink wine when I watch figure skating too.

Your man rights have been suspended...

There is hope for you yet though. Make a batch of 10 alarm chili (with beans, and NO using Bean-O), have it for lunch and dinner for two days, and then 'Dutch oven' the SWMBO... If you don't have a SWMBO, then your rights will be suspended until you do have one, and perform the task...

 

[ericd]

Your man rights have been suspended...

There is hope for you yet though. Make a batch of 10 alarm chili (with beans, and NO using Bean-O), have it for lunch and dinner for two days, and then 'Dutch oven' the SWMBO... If you don't have a SWMBO, then your rights will be suspended until you do have one, and perform the task...

I'm not sure what to say.

 

[Golddiggie]

I'm not sure what to say.

Just glad it isn't you??

 

[thezepster]

I work at a wine shop in town and it really bugs me when someone asks very specific questions about a wine and takes forever to decide on one and then they go and get steinlager (just a bmc beer around here) also. Ridiculous