Oh No! January is a “Dry” Month
Just saying but, observing the January Dry Month is bound to be as successful as vowing to lose weight. Still, the effort is commendable. Alcohol is an issue for many, and taking a break can show us that there is more to life than the bottle or the pint. Besides, your body will likely thank you for it.
And so, what are wine aficionados to do in January?!
Well, since your mind will be clear and January is a particularly harsh wintery month, I can’t think of anything better than cozying up by the fireplace to watch a video, docu-series, or read about wines. There are fabulous resources that are fun, educational and designed to give you a good basic understanding of grapes, wines, regions and more. Here are a few suggestions you may enjoy. So fetch that hot chocolate, and let’s settle in.
Oz and James’s Big Wine Adventure
Oz Clark, a real-life British wine expert, is paired with James May, a motoring journalist. Two British celebrities with differing passions; Oz ‘s mission is to instill wine notions on James, who could not care less about it and only wants to find the ultimate wine under a “tener”. The stage is set for a tour de France filled with banters, hilarity and learning moments. The duo made three series: France, California, and Britain. The season in Britain is all about finding the ultimate pint and whisky. The series are available on Youtube. And, yes, they are a bit dated (2006- 2016), but the humour and subject matter are timeless.
Learning about your primary international grapes
A great way to start to make sense of the world of wine is by learning your primary international grapes – their origin, characteristics, the countries where they thrive, their signature aromatics and flavours and what to pair them with. Top of list include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. If you are ready for more, I invite you to carry on exploring the classic wine regions and practical wine notions such as serving temperature and how to preserve open bottles.
WineFolly.com is an excellent source of information, complete with plenty of visuals, short articles and videos. Decidedly more modern than Oz, American wine expert Madeline Puckette is a wine expert/ educator who made it her mission to distill wine notions into simple, straightforward nuggets that are practical and compelling. She won the James Bear Award, celebrating American culinary professionals for her textbook “Wine Folly Master Guide.” This book aims at being the ultimate Wine 101.
If reading and watching all those videos make you thirsty, fetching for a dealcoholized wine may just be the thing to do. The techniques to extract alcohol from wine and beer are constantly improving, and the selection is growing. Many liquor stores and specialized grocery stores now sell dealcoholized wine and beer that are worth sampling. Still, I will admit that the wine may taste a bit thin without alcohol. After all, alcohol does play an important role in providing texture, volume and sensation. The exception to this may be dealcoholized sparkling wine. The bubbles and high acidity of this style create enough sensation to truly serve as an alternative to the alcoholized cousin. Savour the bubbly straight or in a mimosa or other mocktails. The same goes for beer. Dealcolized IPA is especially satisfying.
Whether or not you observe the annual dry month, acquiring basic knowledge of wine will vastly improve your tasting experience and set the course for greater enjoyment over the coming year. A worthy pause for a new, wiser beginning.
Cheers!
Renée Delorme
Sommelier
www.tastingpleasures.ca
403.200.9961
mail@tastingpleasures.ca
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