Cathy Huyghe’s Post

It's back!! For the first time in 2024 our sell-out wine tasting returns - join us as we 'blind' taste 3 classic wines over £15 against 3 of their supermarket equivalent at £9 or under - can you spot the expensive wines? "How much should I really be spending to get a decent bottle of wine?" "Why is that wine so much more expensive than the others if they all come from the same place/are made from the same grape?" "Would I really be able to tell the difference if I splash out on a more expensive bottle, or should I just stick to my favourite which I know I like?" Do any of these questions sound familiar? Well they do to us! Every week we hear questions just like this at the wine school. People are fascinated, perhaps quite confused, and certainly a little cynical when it comes to understanding the different prices of wine. This Posh v Plonk tasting addresses this issue head on, in the best way we know how - by tasting all of the wines BLIND without knowing the price. We have three pairs of wines for you at this tasting. With each pair one wine will cost under £9 and the other will be £15+ Will you be able to tell the difference? And equally importantly- will you actually prefer the most expensive one?

What Wine Is Aged In Whiskey Oak Barrels?: Explore the alluring world of whiskey barrel-aged wines, a fusion of wine's elegance with whiskey's fiery soul. Discover how Zinfandel and others gain complexity... The post What Wine Is Aged In Whiskey Oak Barrels? appeared first on White Dog Barrels.

When is a wine ready to drink? It's a question that I'm often asked and see debated in a constant rotation on social platforms. And it's a tricky question with many aspects. Consumer wine or wine from the grocery store is usually made for immediate consumption, as close to 90% of wine purchased is being consumed within the same week. They are simply made to pop and pour. The big question comes when we look at quality wine. Wine made with care and attention, and usually more expensive. As soon as a wine is finished according to local appellation regulations, the wineries usually sell the wines to release capital, which means that the wines are not fully bottle mature yet. It's an important factor, how the wine has been made, and what the winemaker has intended with the wine. It would be easy to say that a Barolo wine needs so much time or that Bordeaux needs that much time. That could be generalised in theory, but in practice, you really need to know each individual wine. That's the reality. Then, the aspect of how you like to drink your wine. This is a thing that can not be categorised. If a wine is too young, it's rigid, closed, and not pleasant to drink. And if it is too old, it will turn into vinegar. This leaves a huge span referred to as the drinking window. Some have a preference for old wines, while others like them young. And that leaves another demanding question for you to consider. How do you like your wine? If you are in doubt, my advice would be to try to drink wines of all ages. Besides having some great experiences along the way, it also gives you great knowledge of how a wine behaves and develops. You might also, like me, end up enjoying wine in every aspect of its journey. It took this Domaine Sylvain Cathiard Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts 2012 as an example of a wine that has found a beautiful place to express itself. Standing on the border between youth and maturity. Lively with tension and energy, an elegant balance, packed with flavors and with an impressively long finish. Simply jaw-dropping.

Why Age Wines and How to do it Right 👇  It has been said that ‘great wine needs time’ and we would tend to agree. Many age worthy wines are released too young and well before they have reached optimum maturity. However, not all wines should be aged and not all wines are aged correctly. Master of Wine Peter Scudamore-Smith has put together this helpful guide on why and when you should age wines along with tips on how to age wine successfully.    Get the guide ➡️ ️ https://lnkd.in/dB3AzzrC  

Here’s a great article on what we in the wine industry called “Gateway” wines, or those wines that welcome people to the category, and are a great place to start. I know I started with several of these and continue to enjoy them to this day. The article is well written and very helpful.

For anyone interested in beer 'hop'ping over to wine, here are 5 suggestions for a smooth transition into the world of wine.

Unlock the secrets of wine with insights from top sommeliers! Discover the art of tasting and start your own wine adventure today. What's your favorite wine type—red, white, or rosé? Comment below! https://lnkd.in/eiEmVXju

When it comes to wine one thing I've learned over the years is, high priced wine doesn't always mean great wine. Here are the best wines at Trader Joe's according to sommeliers who make a living understanding everything there is to know about wine.

Rich and lush.... I would never use words like rich and lush to describe a wine. But it seems that wine writers and somms tend to agree that these two words suit Viognier wines well. >> That’s why I’m thrilled to host a virtual wine tasting class this Friday, featuring two Viognier wines from opposite parts of the world. [🔗 to register in the comment ⬇ ] The beauty of Viognier lies in its versatility. It produces a wide range of wine types and styles: >> sparkling and still, >> dry, >> medium-sweet and sweet, >> late-harvest wines, Each style offering unique profiles depending on the ripeness of the grapes at harvest. This diversity is what makes exploring Viognier a fascinating experience. What aromas to expect? 🍑 stone fruits, such as peach and apricot. 🌸 violets 🍊 tangerine, 🍈 mango, 💮 honeysuckle, 🌹 rose 🍨 vanilla 🔥 smoky oak And probably more. >> But remember, you don't need to be a wine scholar to truly enjoy and appreciate wine. All it takes is curiosity and a willingness to explore. Link to register in the comment below ⬇