How to go on a journey of wine discovery - Part 2

How to Go on a Journey of Wine Discovery - Part 2

With thousands of different wines out there, it can be difficult to know where to begin. My advice is to start simple and focus on one grape variety at a time, slowly exploring all it has to offer.

Tasting Side by Side

To really learn and appreciate how the grape variety, place and people influence the taste of different wines, you need to taste a couple side by side. You could begin by taking the same grape, but from different countries.

Chardonnay from the Chablis region in Northern France

Cool climate = crisper taste

Chardonnay from California

Warm climate = riper taste

Chardonnay from a cool coastal region in Chile

Marginal climate = a taste that's somewhere in between crisp and ripe

You can also try different grape varieties side by side to see what style you prefer and which grape you gravitate towards.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Black grape - thick skin = more tannin for a bolder flavour

Pinot Noir

Black grape - thin skin = less tannin for a lighter flavour

Wherever they are grown, these two grape varieties will always have these key differences.

Comparing Opposites on the Flavour Spectrum

You can also compare the flavour profiles of different white grape varieties. Going for grapes at opposite ends of the flavour spectrum will allow you to really understand just how different white wines can be.

Sauvignon Blanc

White grape - fresh, aromatic and citrus

Viognier

White grape - peachy, ripe and tropical

By understanding the flavour profile of a wine, you can begin to think about how these could match the different flavours of food.

A light, fresh and lemony white works beautifully with grilled fish and salads, whereas the ripe and peachy style of white can match slightly stronger flavours such as roast chicken or fish pie.

The Blurred Line Between the Old and New World

Traditionally, we think of wines as being split into two categories; Old World and New World. This is based on the country in which they're made – Old World being the countries where winemaking originated, and New World describing the countries that started making wine relatively recently.

Old World

France

Spain

Italy

New World

Australia

South Africa

Chile

The difference is now much less defined as the world of wine evolves. In the past, it might have been considered that Old World wine was more refined and subtle, whereas New World wine was thought of as sunnier and riper. However, this is no longer necessarily the case.

Winemakers from both Old and New World countries are increasingly trying new things and planting vineyards in different locations and climates, which has led to big changes in the traditional flavour profiles you might previously have expected.

This means you can now get all sorts of wine from all over the world, meaning there's more fun to be had in discovering what you like.

Learning the Classics

One of the key differences between Old World wine and New World wine is the rules and regulations that apply in certain countries. In very traditional Old World countries such as France, Spain and Italy, there are very strict rules in place about what can be made, and where.

For example, for a wine to be able to put 'Chablis' on its label, it can only be made in that specific region, can only use grapes from a certified list, and must also abide by rules that dictate the quantities of grapes that can be picked, and when.

New World wines have very few rules and regulations, which actually works in their favour as this means more freedom to experiment with what grows best where.

When embarking on your wine discovery journey, it's a good idea to really get your head around the classics – from both the Old and New World. Here are some to get you started…

Old World whites

Chardonnay grape from Burgundy, France

Sancerre - Sauvignon Blanc grape from the Sancerre region in the Loire Valley, France

Old World reds

Chianti - Sangiovese grape from the Chianti region in Tuscany, Italy

Bordeaux - a blend of permitted grape varieties, commonly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the Bordeaux region in France

New World whites

Chenin Blanc grape from South Africa

Chardonnay from Chile

New World reds

Malbec grape from Argentina

Why Learn the Classics First?

There are certain grape varieties that are grown all over the world and are very familiar to us. If you start by tasting a grape from its traditional homeland, you'll have a good starting point to understand the style and fundamental flavour profile of that particular grape. Then, you can start to explore how that grape tastes when it's grown in another region or country.

Your Assignment

Choose a classic grape that you like, and research where its traditional homeland is. Taste this wine alongside a couple of other wines that use the same grape but are grown in different regions or countries, and compare the flavours.