(Earthy) Jennifer and her dad Alan, during his most recent visit in April.

This year’s goal, as dictated by my dad (who am I to argue when he wants to splurge on his “little girl”?), was to buy a case of wine — a different varietal or region residing in each cardboard-partitioned space.

So in honor of my father’s fine palate and his concern for mine, I invited a few friends over to share the liquid wealth and play a game sure to please any paternal oenophile.

(Earthy) Jennifer Podis' friends were more than happy to help her taste wines and answer the question: What kind of father would this wine be? From left, Beth Valenza, Holly Lathrop, Duane Palumbo, Linda Morton, and Dave Friedley. (Jennifer Podis/The Palm Beach Post)

The players: Four bottles of wine, six friends

The game: Taste the wine, of course. But if you’re going to enjoy the fruit of my father’s generosity, be prepared to answer, “What kind of father would this wine be?”

Not only were friends Beth, Dave, Holly, Linda and Duane eager to participate, I have to applaud them for practicing wine-tasting patience. They are, after all, gastronomic types who will commence a free-for-all when the food and vino hits the table. (Bless them.)

The wine:
2007 Martin Ray Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County ($19.99)

The wine tasting:
Everyone agreed the predominant aroma and flavor was cherry, and Linda even went a step further with a game of association and said it made her think of George Washington!

Holly detected a “woodsy” flavor on the palate (thanks to the oak aging) and all liked the soft, fruity character the wine presented. I got a little vanilla on the palate, as well, and thought it had a lovely creamy texture.

The paternal comparison:
Dave (himself a father) thought the wine was “smooth and mellow” and could see himself standing in a stream fly-fishing. This wine is the father who enjoys the quieter aspects of being outdoors.

Linda thought it would be a father who is uncomplicated, and all the women agreed he doesn’t have a strong or overbearing personality. The kids could easily get away with mischief under this father’s gaze, but, to his credit, he is a family man who participates in Boy Scout and PTA meetings.

The wine:
2005 Steele Merlot Clear Lake, Lake County ($19.99)

The wine tasting:
Just from the deeper garnet color, my friends could already see this was a bigger wine than the pinot.

They got juicier, darker berries on the palate, and “more pucker,” someone exclaimed (read: more tannins), as well as some exotic spice. Beth liked that it finished soft despite being robust up front.

The paternal comparison:
This wine is the man who is a pleaser, and the one you wanted to bring home to mama when you first started dating him. Yet he’s also a little bit of a bad boy, Beth pointed out, “but not an illegal one.”

Our merlot is a take-charge kind of father and won’t hesitate to discipline his children, but he’ll be a soft and fair disciplinarian. He’s also a hands-on father, involved with his children, most likely in sports-oriented activities.

The wine:
2007 Numanthia Termes ($27.99)

The wine tasting:
Termes is made with the tinta de Toro grape, part of the tempranillo family, from the Toro appellation in the Castilla y Leon region in northwest Spain.

This is an intense fruity wine, tasting of rich, dark berries that explode in your mouth. It’s very fragrant, with heady aromas of spice and vanilla.

It’s a complex wine that finishes long and dry, and the gang understood what it meant when I said this wine was more tannic than the first two.

The paternal comparison:
Now we’re getting into the realm of the “manly” father. While Holly was picturing a matador, Dave had his mind set on a señorita with long hair riding a white horse. (We forgave him for straying.)

Beth duly noted this is a man in charge of his family. This is the assertive, forward-thinking father who takes his kids on adventures (and probably enjoys them more than the kids do). He’s the father who agrees when his kids want to go rock climbing or sky diving, seeing that activities with a little bit of risk teach valuable lessons.

The wine:
2007 Thorne Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz ($11.99)

The wine tasting:
We finished the night with the big, bad, sumptuous shiraz. (I had decanted this wine earlier in the evening, and all the wines had been opened an hour or more before we tasted.)

The aromas of blackberry, pepper, spice and oak exploded from the glass. One deep whiff sent those alcohol vapors tingling through my nose straight to the back of my throat.

This is a jammy, juicy wine; full on the mouth, but with a creamy texture. It has notes of vanilla and a hint of chocolate, with well-integrated, soft tannins. It’s just luscious!

The paternal comparison:
This is a wine ripe for creative thinking! I’ll just give you the direct quotes that burst from the table like shotgun fire:
Beth: “This is the godfather of dads.”
Dave: “This is the dad you want in your back pocket when you need him. He will teach you the ways of the world.”
Duane: “This wine is Teddy Roosevelt.”
Linda: “He has depth. This is the man I want.”

And because I was scribbling so fast, I forgot to make note of ownership of this one: “This wine could be the single father, raising his kids on his own. He has that much strength to him.”

After a night as lively and satiating as this, we were left to declare a tie in the game and raise our glasses to all fathers — every type, everywhere.

No losers here.

(To find out how these wines paired with some delectable dishes, check out part 2 of “A Toast to Fathers”)