The Eternal Education of Wine

So what do YOU know about wine?  I do not ask which grape you have a preference for, whether you opt for an Italian over a New Zealander or even if you can be rather thrifty when browsing the aisles of your local supermarket.  No, no, these are all factors of personal choice, not about an education.  What I am curious to know is if you are genuinely aware of what you are about to swill around your mouth when the wine (you’re so often elected to choose) arrives at the table.  The waiter asks the important question of who would like to ‘taste’ it.  You nod in a knowledgeable way and when the beverage splashes into your glass, you whirl it around with your nose perched over the rim, inhaling in the aroma to then take a lingering swig, allowing the various notes to erupt around your tongue as you attempt to detect the flavours that make it so intrinsically unique.  Thankfully, it is a fine choice and one that your companions conclude was a worthy accompaniment to the meal.

But this seems merely an ‘act’ so many of us play when drinking wine.  Merely hours later, less care is taken when deciding on the ‘vintage’ (that is the year it was produced to you or I) as well as the grape.  A bottle priced at £100 quite usually tastes as incredible as a bottle at the lower end of the scale.  This is the problem with alcohol; our elation at understanding these varying concoctions is superseded eventually by its potency which ultimately leads to our wobbly decline.  Such is the sensation I am experiencing now as I write this, post a long wine-tasting afternoon which inevitably led to more wine whilst seeking solid sustenance (Thank you Agata).  My acceptance to attend the 13th Annual Wine-Tasting held by Enotria (the UK’s leading specialist wine wholesaler I am informed) at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea was partly for educational reasons (since assisting at a coveted Butchers in Stoke Newington with their free-range fodder & superb wine-room, an informed opinion is useful when a customer questions which bottle to pair with their sirloin) as well as a welcome alternative distraction to my online existence.  

When I ponder my own understanding of wine, it is indeed varied and gained through diverse and incidental means.  From my age-restricted liberation, I entered into purchasing wines for home consumption based on simple personal enjoyment, leaning towards South American produce versus European.  Through further hospitality related work & attending dinners with more senior guests who imparted further trivia on the subject of wine, I absorbed more and more information on its complexities, waiting patiently for consumption within their 75cl containers.  From time spent on the Continent I visited wine regions in Hungary, Italy & France, witnessing enormous steel vats producing table wine for religious communities in Rome to family day-trips focused on redeeming barrel-born charmers harvested from mineral rich soils in Eger.  One of my previous housemates was a Sommelier and I always remember admiring his  prized empty bottle of an aged Amarone sitting on a ledge.  Many a bonding moment has been shared with a bottle of fine wine and each of them, as well as inspiring a great memory, also erased a bad one.  Such is the love affair we have with this liquid pleasure.  Therefore I felt from my background I had a well-rounded idea of its ancient enchantment (with first records of wine-production dating back to 6000BC it’s certainly obsessive) and was looking to further my knowledge of wine producers, as well as its various guises.

Attending a large scale wine tasting is no mean feat; 10 rooms brimming with attendees and each gallery dedicated to a region in this wonderful world, with a male-dominant presence adding a background of baritone chatter .  You were greeted with the prospect of lunch and coffee however since I had already eaten, I made my way immediately to the country I have most familiarity in testing their vines; Italy.  A splendid range and I not only fell in love with an Amarone, I was entirely enamoured with a range of 3 Vintage-style bottles from a producer, who recreated the technique from the 1920s to release these divine choices.  In particular from this collection, I was very taken by a 2011 Soave and spent most of my remaining hours returning back to the table (compliments to the clientele from the Bertoni representative also seemed to flow with the wine).  It is important to note that the sheer number of producers to choose from in my mini guidebook was possibly unachievable in an afternoon, let alone a day.  Over a 100 choices, varying from Sherry to Champagne and admittedly I am not particularly educated in use of Spittoon, especially when the glasses poured for a taste were always at least a mouthful.  My loathing of wastage was not suited to the occasion either and this only bent my judgement on further bottles to lean more favourably based upon my intake.

I continued my journey through to Spain and Portugal as well as some sparkling varieties, mainly for a range of delicious Prosecco supplied by Ruggeri.  My afternoon was in good company though, as Agata (recently certified in wine-education) was able to guide me to at least follow a logical method of tasting, beginning with whites, then reds to ultimately end with sweeter options (this ‘plan’ was subject to eventual change of course).

Based on my ticking and miniscule scribbling, I think it only fair to document the wines I tasted and particularly enjoyed.  As misfortune would have it, there is never enough time or stamina to be able to fully ingratiate oneself with such a wonderful collective however I can at least glow and purr excitedly about these delicious offerings (there were many more dear readers, but one only has so much patience to both write and sip without lacking attention in one).  

So next time you order a wine, take some time to let the taste capture your creativity and permit it to invoke all possible adjectives based on the care and attention the producer took to provide its character.  Embrace the experience and try to remember the impression it creates, as this will be one of many that continues this eternal love affair we have with wine.

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