After recently graduating as a sommelier, I couldn’t resist the urge to hold a wine tasting for some of the ladies in my life.
My goal? To change their perception of familiar wines as well as introduce a few odd balls into the mix.
Wine stereotypes ( “I don’t like full bodied reds” or ” I only drink dry whites”) lead people to, what I like to call, “wine blinders”: the inability to see the diverse selection of available wine that will likely appeal to your palate. In an effort to shake these wine blinders, I chose 5 wines for the tasting – 2 white, 3 red- all from North America. I didn’t stray too far from familiars, but tried to pick wines that may alter the ladies’ preconceived notions. I asked each girl to write down what they believed the wine would taste like BEFORE they tasted it. Then, after tasting the wine, I asked each girl to note if the wine was similar or different to what they had expected. Before I reveal the results, please acquaint yourself with the three ladies who participated, some of whom you may already recognize as co-authors of this very blog.
“My background in wine is as follows: my best friend is a Sommelier.
Seriously though, when your primary drinking companion sticks her nose up at boxed wine, has an LCBO app on her iPhone and will drag you across town just to see the wine list at the city’s newest venue – you learn a thing or two.
You also, no matter how slowly or reluctantly, develop an appreciation for the stuff. Wherein my university days I’d favour a bottle of tequila or spiced rum, I now peruse the aisles of the wine rack with a slightly more refined, mostly second-hand knowledge.
Though I’ve yet to nail down if I’m truly a red drinker or a white drinker, I find favourites among Rieslings and Pinot Noirs, respectively.
And though I’ve come a long way, I’ll be honest, if the glass is accompanied by good food, hearty laughs, a hot date or a night with the girls, then who the hell cares what’s in it? Not me.”
“My relationship with wine is a classic love story.
Up until I was about 19 years old, I treated wine like the smelly kid on the playground who had cooties. But, with (legal drinking) age came more situations where wine was offered to me and, needless to say, we began to date. It was fast and furious in the beginning; downing as much Pinot Grigio as quickly as possible to reap the alcoholic benefits and avoid a taste I didn’t really enjoy. But, as our relationship progressed, I started falling in love and I branched out, moving towards Pinot Gris, Reisling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. I began to appreciate the power of wine and we started going steady, often choosing its companionship over its competitors, beer and spirits (although, I have had a few affairs). My knowledge of white wine has never been amazing, but I knew the basics. Most recently, I’ve decided to spice up our relationship by bringing some reds into the mix, but my knowledge is minimal. Enter my sommelier best friend… As for me and wine? Well, as with any good relationship, it just keeps getting better with age.”
“I’m not well versed when it comes to the world of wine. I know the basics, like: wine is made from grapes, pairs well with certain foods, can be red, white, pink or sparkling and is the reason I have a headache the morning after I’ve had a glass or two…
If you asked me what kind of wine I prefer, I would say white all the way! My favourites are usually the sweeter kinds, but I do love Pinot Grigio too. Unfortunately my palate is less than sophisticated when it comes to the reds. I’m even going to say it: I don’t like it. And when you are friends with a sommelier (aka the Foodie nut) and your boyfriend is on the road to becoming a Restaurateur, it’s pretty unacceptable to not to pair a Caberenet Sauvignon with a Filet Mignon (is that even right?!… I’m still learning.) Thanks to the nuts, I’m expanding my wine horizons and learning to really appreciate the art of pairings- and hopefully will come to like reds in the future.”
From left to right: Delinea 300 Pinot Noir ( from Willamette Valley, Oregon), Grove Street Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County, California), Santa Barbara Syrah (Santa Ynez, California), Sandhill Chardonnay (Okanagan, B.C.), Cave Spring Riesling (Niagara, Ontario)
ON THE RIESLING (before tasting):
Catherine said: I like riesling, usually. Expecting a sweet flavour, not bitter.
Meghan said:I think rieslings are generally sweet, but can be dry. I usually love rieslings.
Kelly said: I imagine it will be dry, oaky and a lighter style of wine.
ON THE RIESLING (after tasting):
Catherine said: Not as sweet I thought. Not expecting “petrol” flavours. #hugeshock
Meghan said: It was dryer than I expected. I liked it, but it’s not my favourite style of reisling.
Kelly said: It was quite dry, as I thought it would be.
ON THE CHARDONNAY (before tasting):
Catherine said: I think it will be dry, not fruity and bold.
Meghan said: I expect it to be buttery, heavy, smooth and maybe oaky?
Kelly said: I think the Chardonnay is usually sweet, light and oaky
ON THE CHARDONNAY (after tasting):
Catherine said: Very buttery, a lot more than I was expecting.
Meghan said:I found it to be bitter and spicy.
Kelly said: The wine was not sweet and it was heavier than I expected.
ON THE PINOT NOIR (before tasting):
Catherine said: Pinot noir is usually a sweeter red, not dry, not heavy, smooth and less bold than other reds.
Meghan said: All I know is that Pinot Noir is Catherine’s favourite red wine.
Kelly said: I think it will be heavy strong and fruity.
ON THE PINOT NOIR (after tasting):
Catherine said: The aftertaste was subtle, it was smooth but not fruity and not dry.
Meghan said: This is a wine I can sink my teeth into, it was smooth but not overwhelming.
Kelly said: Don’t like red wine.
ON THE SYRAH (before tasting):
Catherine said: I have no damn clue what this wine will taste like.
Meghan said: What do I know about this wine? Nada. Oh wait, I know it’s red.
Kelly said: Bold, strong and. . . . strong?
ON THE SYRAH (after tasting):
Catherine said: At first, I was scared of this wine but it was way smoother than I was expecting.
Meghan said: Well it’s red, so I was bang on.
Kelly said: It was quite nice and not as strong as I was expecting!
ON THE CABERNET SAUVIGNON (before the tasting):
Catherine said: I find it varies but usually bolder flavours, not fruity or sweet and full bodied.
Meghan said: I know Cabernet Sauvignon is popular … and full bodied.
Kelly said: I think it will be bold, strong yet fruity.
ON THE CABERNET SAUVIGNON (after the tasting):
Catherine said: It had much richer flavour than I originally expected, but I didn’t find flavours overwhelming.
Meghan said: I like this wine! It’s not too overwhelming.
Kelly said: I think it was kind of like a mix between the Pinot Noir and the Syrah. Not a wine to my liking.
In a nutshell, it doesn’t take a pro to figure out what wines you’ll enjoy, you just have to take the blinders down and try a few!
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