So here I am in the most metropolitan city in the world, where English has been relegated to an optional language and you can hear more tongues in a single bus ride than Christopher Columbus did on his entire trip. This is London and I am here with a purpose, for a change, that doesn't just involve shopping till my bank feels a minor dent in its holdings, and my accountant has a minor cardiac!

Posted in: Wine Tasting, Wine Review | Comment (3) >>

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 in: Wine Tasting, Wine Awareness | Comment (1) >>

The thing with wine is that it has a capacity to bestow humility.  I am not talking about drunken antics which make it to all our friends' wall of shame. I am talking about the sheer length and breadth of knowledge that this field accommodates.  A lifetime is too short to learn of your ignorance in the field of wines.

I thought myself to be quite a maverick for already knowing about Nero d'Avola -

Posted in: Wine Tasting, Italian Wine | Comment (0) >>

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 in: Wine Tasting, Wine | Comment (2) >>

Hola readers,

This happens to be my first entry on my WSI blog. Somehow they have consented to giving me much independence and allowed me to express openly and, as you many of you may expect from me, bluntly.

Consider this, dear reader, my solemn promise to always and forever think, write, say, and do the same thing - to have coherence and inner-agreement of thought and action. If ever you find or feel me faltering, let me know. I owe it as much to you as to the team at WSI.

Posted in: Wine Tasting, Indian Wine | Comment (0) >>