Out & About Autumn 2019

TOP TIPPLES

Whether you’re preparing for a wedding celebration or just wanting something a bit special, head sommelier at the Vineyard Hotel and UK sommelier of the year 2019 ROMAIN BOURGER has plenty of suggestions

I hope that all of you had a great summer. With the wedding feature in this issue, I thought I would share some tips on wedding wine alternatives, as well as some thoughts on wine and music pairings. It can be difficult to choose wines for your special day, of course you want it to match your food, but also please your guests (I have also been there), but what is the most important of all to remember is that it is your special day and that you must have what you feel like. Champagne is always a great way to start a celebration. However, if you feel like trying something different, why not opt for an English sparkling wine? Most of them are actually made using the same grape varieties and with the same second bottle fermentation method. There are plenty of great local wineries around. Other alternatives that show great value for money are Crémant from France (from Alsace, Bourgogne, Bordeaux, Jura, etc) or New World sparkling wines (especially Tasmania). For still wines, you can find great dry whites (as an alternative to Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio) such as Vermentino from Italy, Spanish Albariño, Grüner Veltliner from Austria, Assyrtiko from Greece (especially from Santorini) or bone-dry Riesling from Australia. If red is more to your tastes, there are great wines coming from South Africa, either on the Cabernet Sauvignon front or Rhône Valley blend styles (such as Syrah, Grenache or Mourvèdre), as well as amazing Pinot Noirs (that also perform very well in Australia, especially in the Mornington Peninsula of Victoria). If you like fuller reds, I would suggest a Chilean Carménère or Tannat from Uruguay. We are lucky to have many local merchants in the area who would be more

than happy to help with your choice. Another thing that has been on my mind for a while, especially during the summer festival season, is the way music affects our taste in wine. We see nowadays lots of famous musicians who own wine estates. Could it just be a coincidence or is music and wine more closely connected than we think? Some estates consider that making a wine (especially a blend) is like creating a symphony. Krug Champagne has developed an app where you can scan the codes of their Grande Cuvée Champagne to have more information about the blend, but also offers some music and wine pairings advice. Some studies have actually found a correlation between how music can affect the way we percieve wines. For example, lighter sounding instruments (such as harp) tend to better match wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, while music with heavier sounding instrument (like organ) are better with heavier reds. Light and fruity reds seem to match better with higher pitch notes and deeper, oaky reds respond better to lower pitches. If your style of music involves heavy guitar riffs, try a wine which is more on the tannic side. If you prefer richer, more buttery whites, try music with a soft timbre and slow tempo. I have memories of buying a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from the Languedoc- Roussillon a few years ago, which stated that it should be enjoyed while listening to Bob Marley. On this note, I will now enjoy a glass of Australian Riesling while listening to a bit of AC/DC. Santé!

Champagne Pierre Vaudon Brut Premier Cru NV £30.15 per bottle / £26.83 per bottle/case The ultimate celebratory champagne, Non Vintage Pierre Vaudon is a versatile, vivacious wine. Pinot Noir grapes from Grand Cru vineyards make up 75 per cent of the blend, bringing structure and depth of flavour. The remaining 25 per cent is Chardonnay sourced from prime sites on the Côte des Blancs, contributing finesse and racy lemony character. Matured in bottle for 36 months, this is a harmonious, shortbread-scented, silky-smooth champagne that cannot fail to satisfy the taste-buds.

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