Well I have finally made it, well sort of…I’m currently in hotel quarantine, but I have made it to Australia at last! And I have to say I’ve timed my mandatory hotel quarantine pretty well with the kick off of the Olympics. So while I sit in a room for two weeks and watch our elite athletes do their thing, averaging around 50 steps a day myself…it’s a great excuse to catch up on some reading and of course work my way through a few tipples from the hotel wine list.
Top of my reading list this week has been one of my lecturers books: ‘This Little Pinot Went to Market’. An area that’s stood out is just that frankly choosing wine is hard!
“Wine is a difficult and confusing product for consumers to choose due to the number of cues on the label such as brand name, region, grape variety”
Larry Lockshin, This Little Pinot Went to Market
And it’s true wine is really hard and confusing to choose. Whether that’s in a shop or on a wine list – what do you do when you’re selecting a wine?
- Look for a region you know?
- A grape variety you like?
- You like the look of the label?
- Perhaps it’s endorsed by your favourite celeb
- Maybe there are some awards on the label
- Or perhaps it’s on offer that week
All these factors may influence your choice and more. Typically a lot of people stick to what they know; Marlborough New Zealand Sauvignon is popular for a reason – it’s consistent, you know what you’re getting and typically it’s not a ‘risky’ price. But if, like me, you like to branch out and try new things where do you begin?
Well, firstly, it is confusing – you are not alone so don’t be afraid to ask whether that’s the waiter, sommelier or shop assistant. Secondly there is tons of information now available online – spend five minutes quickly googling the grape variety, is it similar to something you’ve tried and liked before. Loads of people rule out Chardonnay because they ‘don’t like it’ but Chardonnay is one of the most versatile grape varieties out there, it will taste completely different depending on the region and wine making process. Did you know Chablis is made from Chardonnay? And finally try before you buy, particularly in a restaurant or bar, if the wine comes by the glass ask for a little taster, if you don’t like it try something else – it’s a good way to try something you haven’t tried before and hey if you don’t like it go back to your safe bet.
So what have I been tasting in quarantine…
Sadly the white wine list was pretty restricted to Sauvignon which isn’t my favourite so I’ve been sticking to the comfort of good old crisp Chablis but on the red front I did branch out and try something new.
My first Adelaide Hills wine in Adelaide!
This was a Blaufrankisch (2016) by Hahndorf Hills which is typically an Austrian red grape variety. However, it’s fitting that Austrian/ Germanic grapes varieties grow at Hahndorf Hill Winery as their boutique vineyard is located at the edge of historic Hahndorf village, the oldest-surviving German settlement in Australia.
On the nose the wine itself was rich blackcurrant and dark cherry with quite a punchy spice and undertones of oak but it was so much smoother on the palate, lovely juicy fruit and the spice nicely rounded it out. Supple and smooth – delicious!
Glad to read your first blog from Aus Ellie .
David