VIN et VIN by Susan Brooks

VIN et VIN

by Susan Brooks

Susan Brooks’ Winetasting Experiences

Did you know?

Factoids for those who share a passion for fine wine.

As a long-time enology student and host of many winetasting and food-pairing experiences, I’m happy to share some wine tidbits learned by experts and through personal experience.  Prepare your palate when considering which wines to serve for either food pairing or, simply, to stand alone.

Here’s are a few to ponder:

1.   There are 5 tastes: SWEET, SOUR, SALTY, BITTER, UMANI (savory)

2.   Our sense of SMELL, however, offers hundreds, thousands of options.

3.   FLAVOR- can be applied not only to solid food but for liquids, as well.

4.   ACIDITY- gives the wine it’s accuracy; it’s definition. It’s what puts the Lemon in Lemonade. As a rule of thumb, the acid level of food should be less than that of wine. Hence, a salad with vinaigrette dressing is best with Sauvignon Blanc, not a strong chardonnay.

5.   MINERALITY-This is the sensation wet stone or rock provides. It’s what’s left of flavor when nothing remains in your glass. French Pinot Noir’s are known and appreciated for their high minerality; they are also best served with a SALTY meat. American Pinot’s, on the other hand, have far less minerality and can even stand on their own, without an accompaniment. However, the French Pinot’s from Beaunne are Primo.

6.   All wines have a trace amount of arsenic as a byproduct. Increased Arsenic levels are said to add flavor to cheap wines. A lawsuit filed in 2015 against 83 wineries, claiming the wines were poisoning clients (Franzia, Charles Shaw, Cupcake, Beringer, among them) was later dismissed for insufficient evidence.  

7.   Women metabolize wine at half the rate of men. Don’t women have enough challenges in keeping up with metabolic changes throughout the aging process?  The moral of the story is:

“LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO DRINK CHEAP WINES.”

Susan Brooks is a former Mayor and City Councilwoman of RPV. To contact Susan, please visit:

https://www.susanbrooksconsulting.com/

To learn more about curated wines see:

https://my.boissetcollection.com/susanbrooks

Our curated wines from historic, estates can only be purchased through an Ambassador, like myself. They are often small lot wines, so when they’re gone, it takes awhile before they come back into stock. If you’d like join our Wine Society or to schedule a wine-tasting, please see the Tasting Menu’s and contact me to set a date. This is about savoring wine with friends, enjoying the passion, and meeting new people in a convivial atmosphere with a Guided –Tasting, which I provide. Sante’