The beauty of wine comes from how climate, soil, weather, wind, and sun can influence its evolution. Simply put – you could try a new wine every day of your life, and chances are you still won’t manage to taste them all in your lifetime. With so many varieties, it is hard to understand up from down. I’ve been subject to many a conversation about flavour notes and food pairings that I have simply not been able to contribute to.
But with a trip to wine country (Italy!) pending, I knew I had to learn more about the art of creating and tasting good wine and thankfully, I knew just the place to go to widen my horizons.
Valea Ascunsa (Hidden Valley) is an award-winning vineyard – stretching acres of picturesque Romanian countryside - and much to my amazement, one of their experts was eager to teach me the basics.
Much like appreciating art or music, wine is enjoyed when a real effort is placed on understanding the full process of how wine is created, served, and intended to be enjoyed.
Before you even begin your tasting, there are some important serving tips which can alter your experience. It sounds obvious but using actual wine glasses is paramount in truly enjoying the flavours. Wine glasses are specifically shaped to direct nuances to key senses such as your nose and tongue. And while using different wine glasses for different varieties may sound pretentious, their structures do indeed contribute to the wine tasting and drinking experience. Whether you enjoy white, red, or sparkling, by focusing your senses on the smell, look and feel of the wine, you’ll be able to isolate key flavour notes and their accompanying scents.
Another tip for enjoying wine is making note of the temperature at which it is served and stored. Having a white wine that is too warm or a red that is too cold can alter its intended taste drastically, making your drink flavourless and bitter. A typical rule of thumb is to have white wines chilled before serving, while allowing red wine time to adjust between storage temperature and room temperature (storage not meaning the fridge, in this case). Alternatively, if dessert, sparkling or rose wines are more your thing, these need to be enjoyed at a much cooler temperature than a white wine. This keeps the bubbles fine, rather than foamy, meaning the famous fizziness of a champagne or prosecco can stick around for much longer.
When picking your wine, it is essential to read the wine label – think of it as the map to the treasure chest. Don’t let a poetic description on the label fool you, there are some specific things you can look for, to make sure you truly enjoy your purchase. By default, the type of grape, origin and whether it is an aged wine or not can help you map out some of the flavours to come, as well as the acidity and body (way before the bottle is opened).
Now, when it comes to the tasting - judge a book by its cover. You can tell a lot from a wine by simply looking at it. For example, an orange or brown colour at the ridge of a red wine is a sign of age, whereas a deep purple colour can suggest it is a young wine. Whereas a deeper colour in a glass of white may be a sign that it is aged or aged in oak. But the appearance of wine can tell us much more than just whether it is aged or not – you may also be able to identify the type of grape used, the climate in which it was grown or the alcohol strength.
For instance, in cooler climates, which are further away from the Equator, there is less sun and more rainfall, meaning more acidic wines that have tarter flavours. You’ll find lighter-bodied reds, with flavours of sour cherry, raspberry, herbs and spices, and lean whites, that are citrusy and bursting with the aroma of lemon, lime, and fresh green apples.
In contrast, grapes from warmer climates, are usually less acidic and have riper flavours. This means richer, full-bodied reds, with flavours of ripe plum, blackberry and blueberries and full-bodied tropical whites, with stone fruit (peach, apricot), pineapple, and mango flavours.
Once you’ve decided on what you’re drinking and how, it’s time to stop and savour your drink. If you’re with some wine aficionados, you’ll often seem them sniffing their wine, taking a small sip, and swirling the wine in their mouth before swallowing. This process allows them to fully absorb the flavours and smells. Once swallowed, some wines can taste very different from the initial taste you get on your palate. Here, you can determine things like whether there is a strong alcohol content or aftertaste. If clueless about what to pair your wine with, this latter stage helps you work out your personal preferences when it comes to food pairings.
Sauvignon Blanc is an intense, fruity, and fresh white wine. It pairs well with freshwater fish like trout. As it is a dry white wine, it is also a great accompaniment to pasta and cheese.
Chardonnay is generally more citrusy than Sauvignon Blanc, with a medium body and acidity. It is a great pairing with seafood, lean white meat, and other lean fish dishes.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a popular red wine variety that is a great well-rounded choice that works well alongside a lot of foods. From appetisers to roast dinners – you can’t really go wrong with the natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.
Merlot is usually considered an underdog to the better-known Cabernet Sauvignon, which is something that should be rectified. This wine variety pairs well with chicken, roast duck, turkey, and lean cuts of beef, as well as roasted vegetables and lean side dishes.
After all of that (if there is any wine left over, of course) it is crucial to preserve it. Wine spoils quickly as it meets air, leaving you with a vinegary liquid that ends up down the drain. To slow down the spoiling process, seal your bottle quickly by using a vacuum pump to get rid of any excess air trapped in the bottle; the less air in the bottle, the longer the wine will keep in the fridge.
Lastly, if these tips and tricks have inspired you to go wine tasting, consider venturing out to Hidden Valley’s grounds in Romania. From tradition to attention to detail, the family-owned winery is situated in Transylvania, a region where the kings of the Austro-Hungarian Empire would exclusively get their preferred beverage from. Not only is it home to some amazing wines, but the vineyard also boasts its own restaurant, fishing lake, holiday cabins and a pool overlooking the vines and forest.