Articles
"I HATE Chardonnay" - why this statement leads me to drink.
I first realized that wine would be a big part of my life when we traveled through Italy a few years ago. Since then, most of our vacations, spare time, events with friends, have had a definite food and wine focus.
Having worked in wineries across the Niagara region, and talking to friends and people that I meet, one thing becomes clear--people who like wine know what they like and they also know what they don't like. The problem comes in when they don't know how to DESCRIBE those qualities, and frustration and intimidation then takes over.
During my time working with an enormous assortment of people with varying levels of wine knowledge, one statement has stood out as being the most frustrating to me, and has become my personal pet peeve.
" I HATE Chardonnay"
OK.
Challenge taken.
This outburst of wine hatred inevitably leads me to delve further into the loathing of this poor grape. What is it about Chardonnay that is so unappealing to this person? Is it the oaky character of some wines? The lack of personality or concentration of others? Too sweet? Not sweet enough? Too much burn from alcohol? Do they perceive all Chardonnay wines as being "boring"?
Chardonnay wines, like most grape varieties, is a chameleon of styles, tastes and price levels. Depending on where the grapes were grown, how many grapes were harvested from each vine, the soil type, the growing season/vintage temperatures, whether it was fermented in tanks, then aged in stainless steel, or the type of oak barrels used, the winemaker's style etc...dictates the look, smell and taste of the wine.
I have tasted multiple chardonnay wines, from the same winery, the same winemaker, the same plot of vineyard from the same vintage, that taste strikingly different to each other. The difference could be as simple as a different type of yeast used to start off the fermentation process, or whether the wine was fermented in oak, or just aged in oak, or if they have not had any contact with oak at all.
There are in fact, hundreds, if not thousands of variables that will make one chardonnay wine taste differently than the next...so the blanket statement of "I HATE chardonnay" seems silly now, doesn't it?
After working as a type of "grape-therapist", we uncover what stands behind this aggression towards one of the world's most grown and best selling varieties. If it is too much oak that you dislike, why not try one that is unoaked ? Or, if you generally prefer a big beefy red that stands up to meats and cheese, why not try a fuller bodied, barrel fermented and aged chardonnay?
Really, there is a wine out there that will convince even the most vicious of Chardonnay haters that the grape should not be totally written off. Sure, a little trial an error, some sound advice and most importantly, a good use of DESCRIPTORS and WINE VOCABULARY is needed to properly express what it is that you like, and what you dislike about any wine.
There are no incorrect words used to describe the look, smell and taste of a wine. If a particular glass of Pinot Noir smells like strawberry shortcake to you...so be it. If your friend smells roasted beets, that's fine too. The only thing that matters is what YOU experience. Remember that every person will smell and taste the same wines very differently. Even trained "experts" will find something in a wine that others might scratch their heads over. "How can he really smell BARNYARD in that wine, when all that I smell is red raspberries?"
Now, I'm not saying that I like every wine that I taste, but to write off an entire grape variety, country or even producer is short sighted. If you didn't like a wine from a specific producer 4 yrs ago, try it again. They might have changed their style, the grapes and wine making techniques might have evolved, and your own palate and tastes might have changed. You might even have had a bad bottle. Don't be too quick to say, "oh, I've had that wine before and I'm never trying it again". It might just surprise you, and convert you over.
A big part of my decision to start unWINEd Consulting Services, is to help bridge the gap between enjoying a simple glass of wine, and being able to explain what it is about that wine that you are enjoying (or not enjoying). Hopefully this new found wine language, along with a bit of knowledge about the different grape varieties, typical wine styles from different countries (and regions and sub-regions) will begin to make decision-making at the local wine shop a bit less of a gamble, and ultimately will help you build a repertoire of wine styles, producers and varieties that enhance mealtime, party-time or any time.
Please contact me if you have any questions, or would like to discuss what unWINEd can bring to your next dinner party, shower, or corporate event.
We also work with restaurants who are looking for some assistance with their wine lists.
unWINEd and enjoy the journey...
A Sample Article from unWINEd
