Wine for Father’s Day is fraught with peril. According to Gallup, daddy prefers beer. Mommy, on the other hand, is a wino.
Here are the numbers: 53% of men prefer beer, 22% prefer liquor, and 20% wine. For women, 52% prefer wine, 24% liquor, and 20% beer.
Those numbers are slim solace for beer brewers. In the past decade, beer preference among men is down 11% and wine is up five percent.
Since this is a wine column, we assume daddy enjoys vino. Alternatively, mom makes dad day decisions and she has trained hubby in the two most-important words of a happy marriage: “yes, dear.”
First obvious move is to get a quality wine dad enjoys, and do not buy it on his credit card.
If dad’s dream is grillin’ dogs and burgers, gimme-cap on his pate and greasy fries and ketchup on his plate, then win with zin. Many California zinfandels have enough alcohol that, halfway through the day, dad will forget you didn’t pour beer.
If dad likes big, full reds, then pull cork on that one and pair with big beef and other diet-busting-but-delicious fare like baked potatoes with sour cream, bacon, and butter. How ‘bout some fried onion rings?
If dad is more health-conscious, go with fish, fowl, or even salads that pair with pinot noir or a wide range of summertime whites.
Whether dad likes the wine or the food is not the important part of this papa day pour play. He may forget the wine. He will not forget the love. Neither will you. If your dad is still around, thank him for being dad. If not, lift a glass to memories.
Tasting notes (don’t poor-boy dad’s pour):
• Ponzi Vineyards Tavola Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2015: Bright fruit-forward; world-class player in pinot. $23-27
• The Prisoner Wine Company Blindfold California White Wine 2014: The Prisoner red established a reputation; this white sustains it. $26-31
• Artesa Winery Carneros Pinot Noir 2014: Complex, vibrantly fruit forward, well priced for quality. $28-32
• Moët & Chandon 2008 Grand Vintage Brut: Rich, round; peach, brioche, almonds; classic. $75-85
Last round: This family runs on three things: love, laughter, bottles of really good wine.
Email Gus at wine@cwadv.com. Facebook: Gus Clemens on Wine. Twitter: @gusclemens.