The fermented juice of grapes is made into an alcoholic beverage called wine. Apples, cranberries, plums are also used to make wine. However, if it says wine on the bottle it is from wine grapes. Wine grapes are sweeter, smaller, and have more seeds than table grapes.

Have you ever heard of the saying ‘what a great vintage’? Hmmm… Vint means ‘to make wine’ and Age is the year it is made. It takes an entire season for wine grapes to ripen and hence it is produced once a year.

There are several factors and dimensions to a bottle of wine and its amazing flavor: aroma, sweetness, acidity, tannin, alcohol, and the aging process.

Candy Mah Executive Director at Cave & Cellar, Malaysia talks about wine.

Candy please tell my global audience a little about you?

I am a wine importer based in Malaysia for over 20 years.  I distribute throughout Malaysia in the HORECA, retail, and duty-free market.

Do I have to be a foodie and elitist to drink wine?

One does not have to be a foodie or elitist to enjoy wine. Anyone and everyone can drink wine anywhere.

I want to drink red with white meat, is it OK? Or, is it still white with fish and chicken and red with meats?

To be honest with you, there is so much creativity and fusion in food. People can do the wine pairing as they deem fit.

When I am at a restaurant and order a bottle, how do I know if the wine is good? Do I have to swirl the glass, smell the wine, have bread to taste it, and smell the cork? In other words how to drink wine with food?

Smell, swirl, and taste are the basics to find out if the bottle is good to keep or return at a restaurant.

Does having a cork make a difference in the wine bottle?

Not at all. The screw cap wines are just as good. 

When I go to the store to buy wine, should I always look at the score or buy something that I like?

I would always buy something I like, so I’ll suggest the same for others.

Is an expensive bottle always better than a cheaper bottle?

Price is not an indication of the quality of wines, but it depends on the type of wine. Normal drinking wines that taste better will always cost a bit more.   Grand Crus wines these days are overpriced. As a matter of fact, some Cru Bourgeois which cost less can be the same and sometimes even better.

If I want to have a few bottles of wine for the holidays for guests how do I build a collection?

One should know the preference of the guests. However, here is a guideline:

a.  Western guests you can keep some Pinot Grigio (white), or Rose (dry) for summer and preferably Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir.

b.  Asian guests, you can keep Chardonnay and/or Cabernet Sauvignon.

How do you balance food, faith, finance, and family in the 21st century?

I separate the working and non-working hours.  Once working hours are over, I relax and during the weekends spend precious moments with my family.  Work is never-ending. Time is in our hands to control to do the right things for ourselves and our loved ones.

Photo Credits: Kelsey Chance Caroline Hernandez  Brett Jordan chuttersnap Matt Lamers Amy Chen 

The post Wine: How To Drink It appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

I am super excited to present Carlotta Salvini. Carlotta was born in the beautiful Tuscan town of Siena, Italy, and is fascinated by the wine industry. She graduated in 2013, in agriculture from the University of Florence. Carlotta continued her training in the wine industry, obtaining WSET level 3 in 2016, certified FISAR sommelier in 2017, and recently graduated in Viticulture and Oenology from the University of Florence. In November 2019, Carlotta won FISAR’s best sommelier at the national finals in Livorno, Italy.

Carlotta, a pleasure to have a sommelier on board. Please tell my global audience a little about you?

My exposure to the “wine world” began in 2010 when I took part in a grape harvest at a winery. I will never forget the scents, colors and everything was in perfect harmony with the land. In those fields and vineyards, I found a deep connection and admiration, for the grape and the land that was beyond the wine itself. It was an indelible moment that left a deep mark on my conscience and decided to make a career in the wine industry. I currently work in a winery and collaborate with organizations and associations leading wine tastings and events.

Congrats on winning the best sommelier of Italy in 2019. Walk me through the process of how you won this competition?

The exams consist of theory, practical, and a research paper. The theory consists of 1-hour paper on viticulture, vinification, wine appellations of Italy and the world, wine and food pairing, handling of wine, the business of wine, and contemporary issues. The practical is a blind tasting, a tasting evaluation, and a simulation of restaurant service (how to present a bottle, open, and serve it to a customer). The research paper is an individual project on a topic chosen by the candidate.

When I went to a hotel school in Switzerland, I visited a lot of vineyards and restaurants in Switzerland, France, and Germany. I never came across a female sommelier. Talk to me about how you got into the profession, the schooling, hard work, and how you developed a taste for wines?

I decided to attend a sommelier course because I felt I was interested in wine. However, I did not have the right tools to understand it. I kept improving my skills by attending wine fairs and wine tasting events to taste and discover as much about wines as possible.

Is the wine business still dominated by men? Are women breaking through the ice ceiling? 

I believe that it is increasingly important to raise awareness not only of the female sommelier but also the role of women working in the restaurant and wine industry. It is a beautiful opportunity to provide greater awareness of the interdisciplinary skills currently required in the wine industry. A sommelier needs to know English, understand marketing, comprehend digital communication, come up with wine tourism techniques, enology and hospitality.

Let’s talk about wine, which is better as an aperitif, red or white, and why?

The aperitif can be white, red, still, or sparkling. The most important thing is that it shouldn’t be too strong. Sparkling wine is pleasant as it contributes to the cleaning of the taste buds, waiting for the following bite. White wine, generally, is perfect for summer! Its fruity and floral notes spice up the palate, but only if it is served at the right temperatures. Light red wines are the most suitable in winter and give a pleasant sensation of warmth.

There is this old-school mentality that white wine with white meat and red with red meat. Is that true? Can someone have a white with a medium steak?

These days, you’re more likely to hear, “Drink what you like, eat what you like.”

But there are still guidelines that can help the wine pairing choice to be a sound one: do your best to match the weight and mouthfeel of the wine and food, balance their intensity, and try to either match flavors or counterbalance them. Intense foods call for intense wines. Red wines typically pair well with red meat because meat stands up to the tannins, but you can substitute rich, full-bodied whites. I find it really depends on how the meat is prepared and what kind of sauce or side dish is served. For example, I might pair a grilled steak with a Sangiovese or I’d pair a steak topped with a sour cream salsa and thyme with an oaked Chardonnay.

Snobbishness rules the wine world and all the terminology. If I am at a restaurant and the sommelier pours me some wine to taste, do I have to taste bread, shake the glass, smell it, smell the cork, check the temp, check the mineral deposit, gargle the wine or just taste it and go with it?

Too many rules to follow! Just make sure that the wine you are tasting is the one you ordered and enjoy it!

What is the number one mistake customers make when ordering wine?

Well, the biggest mistake is people thinking the screw cap is for cheap wines. Screwcap is fantastic for aromatic wines because you don’t have the risk of cork taint. Especially with wines from the new world and New Zealand, some of the best wines are bottled as a screw cap. Another one is that people tend to have a lack of confidence in their own taste, and they also tend to be a bit conservative. So, they always choose the grapes and wines they know. And it happens also that people don’t ask a waiter/bartender for their wine selection. When I order wines by the glass, I always say ‘Which wines do you have by the glass?’ If you go to a place, what should always happen, if you say ‘I’d like a glass of white wine,’ they’ll say A, B, or C — if they just hand you a glass of white wine it’s probably a sign they’re not taking it seriously.

It’s all marketing.

If you had a choice to drink only one red and one white for the rest of your life what would it be and please do not tell me it is the wine that you work for?

White: Champagne Françoise Bedel Cuvée Robert Winer 1996

Red: Montevertine Le Pergole Torte 1999

The wine world is full of cliches. If you had a choice what would you like to get rid of?

When someone says that the wine is too young to be drunk. If the wine is released to the market, it is ready to be drunk. You just need to look for the right food to pair it with.

Help me understand some overrated and underrated wines?

Can there be any other area in the world—and I include whole nations such as Argentina and Chile in this—where wines are more underrated than in France’s Loire Valley? When you think about both the originality and the exemplary quality issued by the best producers in Chinon, Bourgueil, Saumur, Sancerre, Vouvray, Muscadet, Savennières, Quarts de Chaume, Bonnezeaux, and Coteaux du Layon. Look at the prices of even the finest producers from the zones and you’ll agree the only word is “underrated.”

Super Tuscans are more literally overrated, as someone seems to think that Italian reds just aren’t great if they don’t have some Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah in them. Moreover, even good ones are just generic reds from anywhere. Think about it — what should a Super Tuscan taste like? What distinguishes that from an Australian Cabernet-Shiraz, or from, say, Big House Red?

I want some exquisite pairings besides oyster and Chablis and Prosecco and caviar?

Mosel Riesling and sushi

Sauternes and Foie Gras

Champagne and “porchetta”

Talk to me about the city you live in, the culture, the food scene, some amazing restaurants and why we should visit it?

Siena is one of the most famous Italian cities and a place every tourist aims to visit during a trip to Tuscany. It is famous for its Palio that takes place twice a year, and for its characteristic narrow streets flanked by brick buildings. The historic city is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO and is filled with beautiful and interesting places to visit like the main square Piazza del Campo or the Dome of Siena. You can find many traditional dishes in Siena. Wild boar, Cinta Senese or hare make for delicious croutons, pappardelle pasta, and grilled meat. Then there are local sausages, cheese, liver, ribollita soup and more. Siena and its province also have great wines: Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano and Vernaccia di San Gimignano. There is also plenty of choice for dessert: cantucci biscuits, Ricciarelli, Panforte and Cavallucci, accompanied by the classic Vin Santo.

Rapid-fire questions:

Favorite meal: Spaghetti!

Favorite drink: Wine for sure

Favorite book: Umberto Eco “il nome della rosa”

Favorite city to relax: Paris

If you had a choice to have a glass of wine with three people, who would it be and what would you talk to them about?

Angela Merkel: the most influential woman according to Forbes. I would be honored to spend even just a minute with her!

Jancis Robinson: my favorite MW! I would love to hear her “wine tips”

Madonna: my idol! I would love to listen to her singing live for me “Holiday”

If you were chosen to go to Mars and only had to take 5 things from the earth what would it be and why?

My dog, I cannot live without him!

A wine opener.. you never know..

A book, to relax

Mascara and lipstick.. if I meet someone else!

A bottle of wine… to share with someone else!

Tell me a good wine joke?

The secret of enjoying a good bottle of wine:

1. Open the bottle to allow it to breathe.
2. If it doesn’t look like it’s breathing, give it mouth-to-mouth.

Photo Credits: Brett Jordan Zan Kamil Kalbarczyk Brett Jordan Sandra Grünewald  Riccardo Bergamini

The post Carlotta Salvini: The Best Sommelier in Italy appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Ontario’s wine regions are a haven for enthusiasts and casual sippers alike, offering a delightful blend of scenic landscapes, rich history, and exceptional wines. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a weekend retreat, or simply seeking to explore the local terroir, visiting a winery can be a transformative experience. From the sun-kissed vineyards of Niagara to the charming estates of Prince Edward County, each winery tells its own story through its wines, architecture, and hospitality.

I have compiled a few rules to help you enjoy your experience while visiting a winery.

A majority of wineries are owned by families who put their hard work, love, and expertise into managing the vineyard. The families take great pride in their wineries, and you are their guest.

Plan out your day

Napa Valley, Prince Edward County, the Niagara Peninsula, the Okanagan Valley, and every wine area have detailed maps and routes to follow. Read the map and plan to visit at least three or four wineries a day.

Have a great breakfast

Never go wine tasting on an empty stomach. Have a full meal early in the morning.

Have a designated driver

Your safety comes first.  You will taste at least four wines per vineyard. These glasses can add up. It is important to have a designated driver. Many wineries offer a free non-alcoholic beverage to the designated driver.

Do not wear perfume

The perfume will interfere with your sense of smell and taste and you will not get the exact aromas of the wine.

Be humble

Even if you are oenophile, it is always good to be humble. Be open to other ways of doing things. You might be used to drinking wines that have a cork. Some use plastic or do not use cork at all. You might not like a blend or unoaked. Have an open mind.

Get to know the winemaker and their concept

Always talk to the owner or the winemaker. Become interested in them and ask questions. You will learn so much about the wine, the vineyard, and their approach to making wine.

Do not ask for a discount

The owners and the winemaker work very hard through challenging climates and the wines are worth every dollar. Do not haggle or ask for a discount.

Respect their time

If they are not busy, it is ok to talk to them. If the tasting room is full then respect the time of the owner and the winemaker.

Taste and spit if visiting more than one vineyard

I strongly recommend this habit. Always have a piece of bread before tasting. Clean your palate. Shake the wine in the glass. Look at the sediments. Put it against the light and see if there are any tannins at the bottom of the glass. Now take a sip and gargle. Most vineyards have a bucket where you can spit the wine out.

Do not ask if there is a better wine

You are insulting the owner by asking this question. Taste the wines that are offered on the flight.

Buy a bottle

The vineyard is offering you free tasting so that you can buy some wine from them. Please buy a bottle.

Bring a cooler to put the wine bottle

Always put the bottle that you buy straight into the cooler. This will protect the wine.

The post 12 tips for a Successful Visit to a Winery appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.