Wine is not isolated to high-society anymore

College students aren't wine nerds. Most students' knowledge of wine begins and ends with Charles Shaw's "two-buck chuck." We're poor — we spend our dollars on 40 ounces of Mickey's and 30-packs of Bud Light. But you don't need to be a rich sissy to know your wines. If you're smart — you'll know what to order when you actually have some money to spend or when somebody buys you dinner.

People have been making and drinking wine for about 4,500 years. Odysseus — the famous ancient traveler — survived death by throwing undiluted wine in the eye of Cyclops. The ancient Egyptians drank wine next to their pyramids. Wine has been giving people a comfortable buzz almost longer than the written word.

The production of wine hasn't changed much over the years. We have, however, been blessed with over 4,000 varieties of Vitis Vinifera, the species of grape from which most wines are made. The number of variants to Vitis Vinifera is constantly being increased by wine nerds everywhere.

California is famous for its wine. Nine-tenths of the wine from the US is grown and produced in California. We make good wines — and we also make Charles Shaw. I advise all food fans to refuse Charles Shaw at all times — I'd rather see someone steal a good bottle of wine then buy Charles Shaw. I could go on about the demise of small vintners in California from the Wal-Mart-like business ethic of Charles Shaw's makers, but I'll save that for another week. If you drink it, don't let anyone see the bottle! If I ever caught anyone stealing Charles Shaw I would beat them with the bottle.

This is a breakdown of some common wines in the local restaurants and markets:

Red Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon — This wine is high in tannin. Nuts are also high in Tannin. In other words, if you're eating anything with nuts, your dinner could be destroyed by a Cab. If you're having a heavy meal, like thick pasta or a big steak, Cab is usually a safe bet. Cab is also a good after-dinner wine.
Merlot — This wine is more likable than Cab. It's got a nice deep color, is low in tannin, and has a high alcohol content. It's usually sweeter than Cab and has aromas of cherries and plums. Merlot is good with rich, red pastas and heavy chicken dishes.
Pinot Noir — Pinot is my favorite wine. Its alcohol content is very high and it's usually sweet. It can also taste earthy or woodsy, depending on where it's grown. Pinot is very difficult to process into wine. Drink it with red pastas or light beef dishes. If you ever eat goose or duck, Pinot is the best choice.
Chianti (pronounced Key-an-tee) — This wine is very dry and is good with food. Chianti is grown in the Chianti region of Tuscany, Italy. It's affordable and is a good wine with pastas and pizza. It's not the wine you'll want to drink if you're not eating food at the same time.
Zinfandel — Most people think of this wine as a white wine, but it can also be red. Red Zin is deeply colored and high in alcohol and tannin. That means avoid the walnut dishes with red Zinfandel. Most Zinfandel comes from California.

White Wines
Chardonnay — This grape is grown all over the world. If it's fermented in steel, it can taste crisp and dry. If it's fermented in oak, it is a balanced wine with nut undertones and a creamy texture. Chard is a good choice for most seafood like lobster or scallops. It's also good with poultry or a light beef dish. You can find good Chards for under $10.
Sauvignon Blanc — This wine is thought of as a perfect compliment to many dishes. It's high in acidity, so it compliments many white pastas and seafood dishes. It's also good with poultry.
Riesling (pronounced Re-zling) — Unless you're eating chocolate or cheese, Riesling is not the best choice to pair with food dishes. If you're at a party with lots of rich people and cheese, go for the Riesling. Anything but Charles Shaw!
Pinot Grigio — A round wine that is full of flavor, Grigio grows very well in Oregon. This grape is a variation of the Pinot Noir grape, which is red. This wine is also good with poultry and seafood dishes.

Hopefully with the help of this article, you will be able to pick out the best wine for any occasion!

Sean Orfila is a journalism major at CSU Long Beach. He writes about food and culture on his Web log at www.goeatrice.blogspot.com.