“Come quickly, I'm drinking stars!” -Dom Pérignon
According to legend, this is what the infamous monk said after his initial sip of Champagne, and I respectfully concur. There is no way to properly communicate the extraordinary feeling when this effervescent, complex wine first touches your lips. Like a first kiss, it leaves you breathless and wanting more.
These legendary sparkling wines come from the Champagne region in France, the only region legally permitted to call its wines Champagne. Made from
Whether attempting to seduce a gorgeous date or impress an oenophile client, there comes a time in every wine lover’s life when at least appearing to know how to taste and evaluate wine will elevate his or her worth. You don’t necessarily have to be able to distinguish between a Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc and a French Sancerre, but there is much to be gained from the ability to identify the various characteristics of a wine. Here are a few tips to taste wine like a pro with a touch of class and without all of the pretension.
Imagine taking the time to carefully cellar an exceptional bottle of wine in anticipation of a milestone anniversary. The special day finally arrives: the candles have been lit, the table has been set, and the scrumptious dinner you have been slaving over is waiting on the table. As you raise your glasses for a toast, you see a grimacing face across the table. Bringing the glass to your lips you discover that not only does the wine have a mouldy and unpleasant smell, it tastes downright awful. What went wrong? Unfortunately bad bottles happen more often than naught, no matter what the price or quality of the wine. The cause? The seemingly innocuous bit of tree bark that winemakers have been using for centuries to seal the bottle: cork.