Wine Dinner. Is it worth the time and money
Recently i was at a charity wine dinner, wondering what were the benefits of a wine dinner. Wouldn't it be the same if i cooked dinner, invited a few friends over and pop open a few wines?
Perhaps, lets look at the definition a little clearer.
If you were to cook a meal and pop open a bottle with little to no consideration to the food, it will simply be dinner with wine. Maybe your initial thought is to make the food the star of the day.
However, if much thoughts were put into the wine chosen to enhance the experience; Regardless if the wines takes a starring role. It would be appropriate to call this, a wine dinner.
A wine dinner is usually curated by a sommelier/host or perhaps an aspiring one. Wines are carefully picked to match the salt, sweet, bitterness, umami and spice levels of the food. All necessary ingredients to a successful meal.
At a recent charity dinner, the pairing of the Salmon-en-croute, with the 2014 Bodegas Bilbainas Vina Pomal Rioja Blanco worked wonders.
Rioja is a famous wine region in Spain, renown for their red Tempranillo. Their white blend however surprised all of us with it's body and complexity. The varietals used in Bodegas Bilbainas Vina Pomal contains mostly Viura and 30% Malvasia. The oak it exults packs a punch, justifying the 4 months it spent in 50% French and 50% American new barrels.
Salmon which has more layers of fats than your soon hocks, went really well with the wine. The oak and acidity cut through the fats like a well sharpened knife, providing that extra pop in your palate.
Sometimes an experience can be further enhanced by the atmosphere generated by the sommelier or the host of the dinner. A knowledgeable sommelier/host, sheds a different light on wines with deep history. Bringing a deeper appreciation into the wines, and the best way it should be consumed (stand alone or with food). Like how a legendary wine 2011 Nittardi Chianti Classico Riserva was paired with braised beef cheeks.
The cause of the wine dinner also helps. In Singapore, a group of sommeliers aptly known as the flying sommeliers have gone out of their way to put together a series of events to raise funds for the society of physically disabled. Auctioning rare wines along the way to raise fund for the less fortunate. This year into it's 3rd series, it has garnered media interest both locally and internationally.
Knowing every dollar spent is going to someone in need, makes it that much more meaningful.
Pick or start your own wine dinner, and share with us your experiences.
Even Vadar has made his choice.
Gerard Zhang,
CSW, WSET
Perhaps, lets look at the definition a little clearer.
If you were to cook a meal and pop open a bottle with little to no consideration to the food, it will simply be dinner with wine. Maybe your initial thought is to make the food the star of the day.
However, if much thoughts were put into the wine chosen to enhance the experience; Regardless if the wines takes a starring role. It would be appropriate to call this, a wine dinner.
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| Wines used at Flying Sommelier 2017 Praelum Edition |
A wine dinner is usually curated by a sommelier/host or perhaps an aspiring one. Wines are carefully picked to match the salt, sweet, bitterness, umami and spice levels of the food. All necessary ingredients to a successful meal.
 |
| 2014 Bodegas Bilbainas Vina Pomal Rioja Blanco |
At a recent charity dinner, the pairing of the Salmon-en-croute, with the 2014 Bodegas Bilbainas Vina Pomal Rioja Blanco worked wonders.
Rioja is a famous wine region in Spain, renown for their red Tempranillo. Their white blend however surprised all of us with it's body and complexity. The varietals used in Bodegas Bilbainas Vina Pomal contains mostly Viura and 30% Malvasia. The oak it exults packs a punch, justifying the 4 months it spent in 50% French and 50% American new barrels.
Salmon which has more layers of fats than your soon hocks, went really well with the wine. The oak and acidity cut through the fats like a well sharpened knife, providing that extra pop in your palate.
"The job of a sommelier, is to provide an alternative to wines that will work according to google. Tailoring to each guests individual needs" - Michael Leitner (Sommelier)
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| Braised Beef Cheeks, root vegetables, forest mushroom |
"Chianti wines were used to feed Roman soldiers. They had 2L/day during peace time, and 4L/day during war times. Nittardi was home to one such Roman general, and his wines were so good it was renamed Nectar Dei (Nectar of the gods). One of his regular patrons was Michangelo" - Gerald Lu (Sommelier)
The cause of the wine dinner also helps. In Singapore, a group of sommeliers aptly known as the flying sommeliers have gone out of their way to put together a series of events to raise funds for the society of physically disabled. Auctioning rare wines along the way to raise fund for the less fortunate. This year into it's 3rd series, it has garnered media interest both locally and internationally.
 |
| The flying Sommeliers (L-R: Amir, Fazil, Michael, Gerald) |
Knowing every dollar spent is going to someone in need, makes it that much more meaningful.
Pick or start your own wine dinner, and share with us your experiences.
Even Vadar has made his choice.
Gerard Zhang,
CSW, WSET
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