Sometimes an experience reveals something about yourself that you’d rather have kept under wraps. But, driven by the sad moments over dinner when I see Alice’s glass empty and mine still full because of my strange reluctance to drink while I eat, I had to look inside of me, literally, to find an answer.
Which is… I have more bitter taste buds than sweet. Oh woe is me! Deepest dark despair! Bitter bile! You may pity me but actually this revelation could have just changed my life for the better. And I have the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, and their simply terrific approach to learning about wines, to thank.
So here is the skinny on some of the things that I learned and will henceforth bore you with over meals and parties:
The recommendations on the wine label and the restaurant’s suggested food pairings are not necessarily accurate for you and your tongue.
If you buy a cheap wine, feed your guests with lots of salty things.
The dribble test is as gross as it sounds; but totally worth it.
The glass you use is paramount to the taste.
Cold red wine is bloody fantastic (see earlier Barolo note).
Red peppers are the most promiscuous of the pepper world.
The Northern hemisphere is high on acid.
Be prepared for the worst if they give you a piece of paper to chew on.
The WSET teach you not just about wine, but about learning your own genetic make-up and how that impacts what you taste. In my group alone, there were so many different opinions on the impact that sweet, salt, umani, oil, spice and acidic flavours had on our wines. I’m a savoury character. What can I say?!
What you learn is the process of understanding what may happen when wine hits your tongue, and your own reaction to it. Which has shot my culinary journey into space, as I can now choose a better wine for me and know exactly what I am tasting down to those key flavours.
And of course, it’s all done simply, without jargon, allowing you to verbalise your tastes in a fun & knowledgeable way without all that fussy language.
It is fun, insightful and so genuinely educational that I wish school was more like it. Mind you, there may be more accidents with Bunsen burners in science classes after double wine.
And the best thing? It’s so easy to get yourself on a course. You can choose from 1-5 day courses with prices starting from £150 and even work your way up to getting a degree. A degree in WINE. With over 60,000 students in the UK, courses in 18 different languages and courses globally, this is the place to be. Check out their site to find your local class.
So the next time you ask me out for dinner, prep the sommelier prior!
I’m full of bitterness! And it turns out my parents are to blame. Sometimes an experience reveals something about yourself that you'd rather have kept under wraps. But, driven by the sad moments over dinner when I see Alice’s glass empty and mine still full because of my strange reluctance to drink while I eat, I had to look inside of me, literally, to find an answer.
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