So... I made a rash comment at church the other day about the end-of-Mass bubbly which was awful (Martini Asti) and asked why we couldn’t have champagne. Too expensive was the response. So now I have to put my money where my mouth is and buy a case for the next celebration. I like the look of Sainsbury’s house Brut at £19.50 but with 25% off for a case which brings it down to a shade over £14.50. What do you think?
Wine Tasting: Many, many years ago I regularly attended Lay & Wheeler Tastings (before Majestic bought them). It was instructive & fun. Then a colleague heard of my hobby and thrust a bundle of £10 notes into my hand - "you know about wines, please buy me some nice bottles". That tasting was neither instructive nor fun, it was a stressful experience. An early lesson on the difference between Amateur & Professional Wine Tasting!
My nose gets tired first. When I had a restaurant with a Wine Spectator award list, wine reps would bring me wines to taste - often on Thursday. They came early - by 9 - because I was there. Most weren't in yet. Once I smelled a few with the same grape, my nose got tired. I had to smell something neutral to reset it. Often happened no matter the grapes used. One morning I had 4 Grand Cru Champagnes by 8:30. NO spitting that day! In my newsletter I am writing about roses this month. Free to any and all. Register at inthekitchenwithchefjim.com.
Thanks for the insight Fiona. I’m interested; is there an order in which you taste wines at a big tasting? I would have thought Sparkling > White > Red > Sweet but I’ve also heard of a writer who always chooses to end with whites. Any preference?
It always makes me a little sad that even Toak's attempt to move the price bar higher for chocolate, it'll never be like wine. I think because, like you say, there's not enough theatre and conspicuous consumption in chocolate in the same way.
On the plus side I guess it means that the best chocolate in the world is going to remain affordable for most of the people who can afford a house glass of wine now.
So... I made a rash comment at church the other day about the end-of-Mass bubbly which was awful (Martini Asti) and asked why we couldn’t have champagne. Too expensive was the response. So now I have to put my money where my mouth is and buy a case for the next celebration. I like the look of Sainsbury’s house Brut at £19.50 but with 25% off for a case which brings it down to a shade over £14.50. What do you think?
Wine Tasting: Many, many years ago I regularly attended Lay & Wheeler Tastings (before Majestic bought them). It was instructive & fun. Then a colleague heard of my hobby and thrust a bundle of £10 notes into my hand - "you know about wines, please buy me some nice bottles". That tasting was neither instructive nor fun, it was a stressful experience. An early lesson on the difference between Amateur & Professional Wine Tasting!
My nose gets tired first. When I had a restaurant with a Wine Spectator award list, wine reps would bring me wines to taste - often on Thursday. They came early - by 9 - because I was there. Most weren't in yet. Once I smelled a few with the same grape, my nose got tired. I had to smell something neutral to reset it. Often happened no matter the grapes used. One morning I had 4 Grand Cru Champagnes by 8:30. NO spitting that day! In my newsletter I am writing about roses this month. Free to any and all. Register at inthekitchenwithchefjim.com.
Thanks for the insight Fiona. I’m interested; is there an order in which you taste wines at a big tasting? I would have thought Sparkling > White > Red > Sweet but I’ve also heard of a writer who always chooses to end with whites. Any preference?
It always makes me a little sad that even Toak's attempt to move the price bar higher for chocolate, it'll never be like wine. I think because, like you say, there's not enough theatre and conspicuous consumption in chocolate in the same way.
On the plus side I guess it means that the best chocolate in the world is going to remain affordable for most of the people who can afford a house glass of wine now.