Due to social distancing restrictions as a result of Covid-19 Richmond and Teddington Wine Societies have not been able to meet for a couple of months. So I’ve decided to go digital, and have made a video of myself conducting a wine tasting.
Our subject for April was New Zealand, and I put together a case of 6 wines that showcase some of the best wines coming out of that amazing country. You don’t need to have these wines, you could still enjoy following the tasting if you happen to have equivalents to hand. You’ll need a couple of wine glasses (ideally tulip shaped), some paper to write your notes on (a blank white sheet give a good background when you are checking the colour), a spittoon (or possibly not), and if you want to challenge yourself with a blind tasting some silver foil.
The video lasts about 20 minutes, but you can stop and start it as you wish, and of course watch it over a few days. Remember, you can store opened bottles of white wine in the fridge for 2-3 days, and reds will keep for 3-5 days. They keep better (ie fresher and for longer) if you tip what’s left into a smaller bottle so that there isn’t much air at the top, and close it with a stopper or vacuvin it. A well washed beer bottle or soft drink (glass) bottle would be fine. You can download a tasting sheet here.
The wines I taste in the video are below together with links to recipes for the food matches I suggest during the tasting.
I’ve taken the liberty of including a few references to the tours I ran to New Zealand in 2014, they bring back some very happy memories of the winemakers we met and places we visited. Fliss, my wife, has produced a few pages of background about New Zealand and its wines based on her WSET studies (and living there for a year) – click here.
I must thank Fliss and our daughters Hannah and Julia for their roles as extras, I’d particularly like to thank Julia for being director, camera operator, lighting engineer, sound engineer, editor and social media guru.
If you would like to taste the wines in the video do get in touch, I may have some stock. Prices are on the Wines we have tasted page.
Thank you for watching, any feedback is very welcome. I look forward to resuming normal service, or something like it, as soon as possible!
Wines tasted/Recipe links
Sauvignon Blanc 2019 South Island, Marlborough
Fresh asparagus with home made Hollandaise sauce and poached egg
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/poached_egg_hollandaise_43372
Sauvignon Blanc 2019 Greywacke, Marlborough
Hake or trout en Papillotte with herbs and sun dried tomatoes
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/trout-en-papillote
Chardonnay 2016 Trinity Hill, Hawkes Bay
Roast guineafowl accompanied by a lemon and tarragon sauce
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/roastguineafowlwitht_91743
Pinot Noir Crimson 2017 Ata Rangi, Martinborough
Seared tuna with a glass noodle salad
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/seared_tuna_with_glass_05316
Pinot Noir 2017 Wild Earth, Central Otago
Cassoulet or Coq au Vin
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/sausage_and_lentil_58708
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/chicken_red_wine_and_88480
Syrah Gimblett Gravels 2017 Trinity Hill, Hawkes Bay
Venison casserole or roast leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/venisoncasserole_83746
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/slow_roast_shoulder_lamb_92930
