Blog: Steven Spurrier
My last communication was on The Importance of Comparative Tastings, telling the story of a tasting I organised in Paris in 1976 that compared (blind, of course) California Chardonnays against top white Burgundies and California Cabernet Sauvignons against the finest chateaux from Bordeaux. This tasting, where a California wine was judged top in both categories, became
Blog: Steven Spurrier
One of the great joys of wine lies in comparisons. Even if a type of wine can stand on its own - Champagne is the perfect celebration glass for example - there is no reason not to compare the taste of one Champagne to another, or of Champagnes in general to the excellent sparkling wines made all over the world. Another fascinating comparison is that of a young wine from a
Posted by: Steven Spurrier in Untagged on
May 04, 2009
Blog: Steven Spurrier
The wine market in Bordeaux, the world's largest fine wine producing region with over 110,000 hectares under vines and a history going back to the Romans, is unique in that its wines are tasted by international professionals only a few months after each vintage and long-ranging decisions are then taken by the estates who have their wines to sell and the international wine
Blog: Steven Spurrier
Last time we looked at the principal white grape varieties - grapes that were once identified with specific regions in the traditional vineyards of Europe, but are now seen in wine-producing regions all around the world.
This time, it's the turn of the reds. It's worth noting that, with very rare exceptions, the pulp of a vitis vinifera grape is colourless. If you squeeze the grape, the juice is clear, because it is the skin of the grape that contains the pigmentation. By macerating the skins with the pressed juice before, during and after fermentation (the process which transforms the grape's sugar into alcohol), that gives the colour. All red grapes can be used to make a rosé wine, the pink colour coming from a very short maceration period. The skin of the grape also contains the tannins, which, along with the fruit, allow red wines to age.
Blog: Steven Spurrier
Almost all wines today are produced by a type of vine known as vitis vinifera, which has been refined and developed over the centuries for the production of grapes for wine, rather than for the table. Different families of vines have evolved that carry specific names and these are known as grape varieties, or “varietals”. Wine from a single grape variety are called “varietal
Blog: Steven Spurrier
Burgundy – the 2007 vintage
Each year in January, the UK wine trade holds a series of tastings of the last but one vintage in Burgundy . Over two weeks, literally thousands of wines are tasted by the trade and Press and much of the wine is sold at that time. The most exciting vintage in recent years was far and away 2005, but the 2006s were well received, especially the
Posted by: Steven Spurrier in Wine Tasting, Wine on
Jan 05, 2009
Tasting wine is easy: if you can taste food, you can taste wine, for the senses of smell and taste that enable you to capture the aromas, flavours, spices and texture of food are the same as you use for wine. But there is a difference between tasting and drinking, which is Paying Attention.
After the first experience or two, you don't need to pay attention to the taste of Coca Cola or of Kingfisher Beer, for the taste will always be the same. But the taste of wine, of different colours, from different grapes grown in different parts of the world, is almost never the same and each glass will more likely than not be a new experience. So to get the most out of the experience, just like tasting a new dish at table, you have to follow certain steps which, in a very short time, will become a matter of habit. The four steps are: Appearance/Colour; Nose/Aroma; Palate/Taste; Aftertaste/Conclusions.
Posted by: Steven Spurrier in Wine Education on
Aug 21, 2008
Time and again, alcohol and wine have been miserably confused with each other as one and the same thing. Reflecting upon the literally poor public awareness about wine in general and wine appreciation/ wine tasting in particular, wine lovers have been led to take up the cause solemnly and venture into joining hands together, to unfold the best of colors, aromas and tastes of wines to the world.
Posted by: Steven Spurrier in Wine Education on
Aug 21, 2008
Wine , a popular alcoholic drink across the world, is generally made from fermentation of grape juice. The drink has played an important role in religion throughout history. Used in Christian and Jewish ceremonies such as the Eucharist and Kiddush, the drink is popular in European regions of Greece and Rome since 6000 BC. In fact the Greek God Dionysus and the Roman god Bacchus is said to have represented Wine. Though the name ‘Wine’ is derived from Latin word ‘Vinum’, it is indeed surprising to know that Archaeological evidences suggest the origin of Wine(s) to Iran in 6,000 BC.
