How many glasses? And how much?

“How many glasses of wine?” [in one bottle] is a question that we get somewhat frequently here at Annadel Estate Winery.  And it’s a fair one.

But before we begin, heads up folks: Our colicky newborn slept five straight hours last night (yay!)… And I have my sassy pants on today.

Let’s get this straight people.  A bottle of wine holds THREE proper pours.  I call them “Local Pours” when at a favorite spot.  And here in wine country, that translates correctly to 1/4+ to 1/3 of a standard 750 ml bottle of wine per glass.  Now, should the sun be up more than at a 90′ angle (i.e. anytime after lunch), you can extend that to FOUR glasses without being a dick.

** The exception to this rule is brunch or luncheons that commence before Noon… If either said meal is in progress, a bottle of wine then holds four to five glasses.  Sometimes six.  Depends on the size of your sweetly colored or etched little glasses.  And in my book, if there is iced tea or fresh iced coffees along with it (a la Girl & the Fig restaurant).  But for the rest of us hard working men and women, a bottle of wine holds three to four solid glasses.

Our Big Pink Rose at picnic lunch

I could probably stop there but I won’t as this is my first quasi-adult conversation today.

Here at Annadel, we have a personal, family policy to shake free the veneer of snooty wine crap and tell it to you straight.  Probably because we are a boots-loving clan.  Simply put:  Wine is a pursuit of passion.  A lustful enterprise.  A partnership with the earth.  Our daily reminder to slow down, kiss your children, goose your spouse, and smell the roses.  That God loves us.

But too many people can sell you the image of wine and not really talk about it with you.  Snooties don’t have the dirt under their fingernails. In politics, we called it “Talking Points” versus a real understanding of an issue. You know, the generic buzz words.  But as growers and actual winemakers, we talk plainly with you (not at you) about how to make wine.  How to taste wine.  What to see, smell, and swallow for.  We walk the vineyards and show you what’s up.  How the vines are doing and where they’re at.  It’s a joy to meet new people, open our cellars, and hear about their lives.  How they drink their wine and when.

And folks’ second general question, to be fair, is often “Why is fine wine so expensive?” The straight answer is because it costs that much to make.  It’s not only that fine wine costs so much, it’s also that it’s worththat much (and so much more)….  A bottle of wine is years worth of labor from the growers, winemakers, cellar workers, bottling, and aging costs…

Early risers up before the sun to mow the Annadel Estate Winery vineyard

We join with our fellow hands-on craftsmen in profiting mere dollars per bottle on average.  Maybe.  Think about it.  You want to drink wine not doused with regular chemicals for weed abatement? It takes a vineyard manager and winemaker paying constant attention plus three or five guys every month mowing and hand tilling the soils beneath each vine.  You want wine that’s not fattening? You need to drink wine that is picked from ripe grapes and not doused with sugars, food coloring, and syrups to fake the flavors of a perfect vintage.  You want wine that doesn’t bloat or give you a headache? You need wine consciously made and aged in (or with) real oak versus doused with oak dust to simulate the aging process and/or mask a bunk harvest.

Ed the Sheep Guy's sheep are here through the late winter and early spring to organically eat the weeds, aerate the soil with their hooves, and fertilize with their... you know.

Good winemakers don’t charge you an arm and a leg for wine that doesn’t cost us an arm and a leg to make.  So choose that better grade wine next time at the store.  And pour yourself that proper glass of wine, stretch out, and take two minutes to mentally mull the time, care, and sweat that brought you this vintage.

Ok.  Back to babies, diapers, and Colic… Is it 5 o’clock yet?

3 thoughts on “How many glasses? And how much?

    • On my days off I like to make special foods.One of the thigns I’m making is a Mongolian Barbecue sauce which called for Sake. I picked up a plum sake [oriental wine]made the sauce. Had a shot of that wine and it is soo good and another and was feeling pretty good by the time supper was ready. My husband loved the wings.On the days I work I don’t have the need for a shot of anything after work. I’m satisfied that I did the best I could.

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