We all want to act like we know exactly what we're talking about when it comes to wine. Perusing the wine menu in a bar or selecting the perfect wine to complement your dinner is a daunting task for many of us, so we've enlisted the help of Charlotte Calvet, the creator of Garmence Wine Studio, to talk us through all we need to know.
What Are The Five White Or Red Wines Everyone Should Know?
I believe wine is a journey and such tells a story. It is amazing how grape, water and yeast end up creating incredible flavours and smells such as orange blossom and tar vanilla!
Below are my top five wines from Europe (and the best vineyards) that should be on everyone’s radar:
Rhone Valley
I love this French region for its versatility and personality, kind of your good, reliable, non-fussy friend - a crowd pleaser. You can discover honest, delicious wines if you find the right blends.
Rioja And Ribera Del Duero
Rioja and Ribera del Duero in Northern Spain for elegant yet powerful reds. I love these two regions as we always find amazing wines and vineyards to play with.
Bordeaux
Good ol’claret’s reputation is suffering but do explore as Bordeaux involves 118,000 hectares of vineyards separated into 38 appellations (declared origin) making it the biggest French producing region, and still one of the best qualities in the world. There are many gems to explore and widen your horizon – a tip, start at a mid-range price for good value.
Italy
A white wine from Italy, but try to branch away from a Pinot Grigio. It’s so predictable and isn’t always the best quality of wine. Italian whites can be very surprising and delightful such as Vermentino di gallura or Trentino-Alto Adige.
Cremant
That is the name of a sparkling wine made in France according to the very traditional method of bottled second fermentation, the most famous being Champagne, but not coming from the origin Champagne. They offer amazing value and can often taste better than an entry level Champagne… Look for Cremant de Bordeaux (made in Bordeaux), Loire (made in Loire) etc.
How Should You Taste A Wine?
Let’s be honest, we all have a friend who says she/he is a connoisseur, swirling, sniffing with a very serious look. Well, it’s not all about that.
First, understand that taste begins with your nose. Your mouth will only give you acidity, sweetness, bitterness, saltiness and tannins (dry mouth?). The reason people swirl is to oxygenate the wine and let the flavours expand. Just leaving it in your glass for a few minutes can work too. Then smell, and trust your nose and tap into your olfactory memory. Do you smell something you like, something that’s off? If it stinks, there is a problem with the wine (old gym socks= corked / bad eggs = sulphites). Then take a sip, enjoy the smoothness. What you should look for is balance and just see if you like that feeling! Do you like it? Trust yourself - you need to always follow your taste.
What Does The Nose Of A Wine Mean?
The smell – it’s the same as the notes you would find if smelling a perfume or a candle.
How Do You Differentiate Notes?
Try to isolate smells by matching them with a memory…”Oh this note is familiar, is it a fruit, a flower a memory…?” It’s a very delightful game and nobody loses. Try tapping into your olfactory memory.
A Brief Guide To Key Notes Associated With Different Wines
Common notes for reds: red and black berries fresh or cooked, violet, black pepper, plum, tea leaves.
Common notes for reds oaked: In addition to red and black berries, violet, black pepper, plum and tea leaves you can also find vanilla, cinnamon and tobacco.
Common notes for white: citrus, exotic fruits, white flowers, almonds, mint leaves, bread.
What Is The Difference Between Dry And Sweet Wines?
The terms dry, sweet and semi dry all refer to the level of sweetness or residual sugar in a wine. A wine is considered ‘dry’ when all of the grape sugar is converted to alcohol during fermentation, where as a sweet wine will still have some residual sugar incorporated.
A good go-to when you want something:
Dry? Loire white wines like Pouilly Fume.
Sweet? A Tokaji (pronounced ‘Tokai’) a region in Hungary. Try before you die…
How Important Is The Age Of A Wine?
It depends what you look for. A long time ago you could hardly drink a red wine young, it was way too harsh - time is what makes it smoother. Nowadays, improved winemaking techniques make most wines drinkable on the year or within the two years after bottling. Most rosé and fresh whites are not good with aging. Some reds are interesting to age as they develop new flavours and aromas that are more musty, and complex. It is really a matter of taste.
What Is Organic/Bio Diverse Wine?
The term "biodynamic" refers to both the agricultural methods employed to grow the fruit and the post-harvest processing. It has to do with spiritual beliefs, the moon etc but it doesn’t mean you can’t find nasty things. Organic wines on the other hand go through the same strict process of any organic product on the market according to the country of sale standards and is mostly related to the use of pesticides in the vineyards. Our prosecco is made from organic Glera grapes and is simply delicious.
What Other Lingo Is Useful When It Comes To Wine?
Bold, light, length – if you can still taste the wine in your mouth for some minutes after this means the wine has good ‘length’ and is a good quality wine.
What Wine Pairs Best With What Dishes?
This is something we can talk about for hours, and it really depends on the wine. This is why we developed a pairing wheel for all of our wines to showcase what will complement each wine best.
What happens is that a type of food, or a type of wine will trigger something in your taste buds. If they both trigger opposite reactions, then both will ta
ste bad, if they complement each other then they both will actually taste much better.
What's Trendy In Wines Right Now?
Quality! And it’s about time. There seems to be an apparent shift in people wanting to spend more on quality rather than quantity. To explore and realise that connoisseur or not, they have their own personal taste. We see a rise in the Mediterranean/French lifestyle where it’s all about balance. Wholesome food, being active, being social and having little wine, more often as part of an everyday balanced lifestyle.
When Should You Drink Sparkling Wine/What Food Does Fizz Work Best With?
In Italy, the purpose of drinking Prosecco is to clean the palate, help get rid of the taste of the day’s espresso, clear the mind and ease you into dinner. Our prosecco is made from organic Glera grapes and with a hint of flowery lemon it’s a perfect match with seafood, spicy food chicken dishes and hearty risotto’s.
For the most famous of the luxury wines, champagne, when is there ever a time not to drink this?!
A complex yet balanced fizz, that’s fresh and toasty on the nose is equally as delicious on its own or with chicken, white fish, cheese boards or sweet, rich pastry treats.
For me wine is all about mood. Sometime you feel like drinking a dark red, a light white or a sparkling god…
Best Piece Of Advice For The Wine Novice?
Trust your taste. You know a bad coffee from your good one, and it’s the same with wine. If you don’t want to be adventurous, find something you like and stick to it. And if you want to step out of your comfort zone, use your personal preferences and previous experiences to determine what you like and don’t like simply by assessing if it’s too heavy, too bold, too light, too acidic etc.
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