Virtual Wine Tasting

Throughout last year I watched many virtual wine tasting, especially with Brad Horne @winetimelondon. Whilst I was not drinking any alcohol it was great to keep up with the wine world. I discovered many new vineyards too, in particular White Castle in Wales and Tickerage in South England. 

I really missed not only drinking wine but hosting our wine tasting evening for our scouting friends. Since last March with four of our friends we have been having chat nights via video calling, collectively we're known as the Booze Trippers as we've enjoyed quite a few short breaks discovering more about wine/spirits. We hope to be out and again soon but in the meantime we're enjoying the virtual world.

Our weekly chats always include a quiz or game of some descriptions and to our surprise we seem to be online each week well into the early hours of Sunday. Drinks and snacks are personal choice although we have been known to drop off baked goods for each other so we can have a mass munch on a Saturday. It's such fun and I can honestly say these nights have been such a boost to me and Hubby, we really look forward to our Saturday Nights In!

Now I'm starting to enjoy a few more glasses of wine and occasionally a gin and tonic or whisky I thought it would be fun to host a virtual wine tasting on one of our evenings. Hubby and I are still shopping online for it to be delivered and noticed Tesco were offering 4 for 3 on mini wine bottles - perfect. The choice of small bottles is nothing like the variety or quality of the full size shelves but we managed to find a mini selection of minis. 

Here's our selection all ready to go virtual. I had wrapped each bottle up individually so our friends opened one at a time, just to add a bit of surprise. It made a change to leave the house to drive over to drop off the goody wine bags, not quite as long as our usual travels but a road trip nethertheless.

For each wine Hubby and I had written five quiz questions, nothing too difficult and all things we have talked about at previous tasting. It was great to do whilst enjoying each wine, not that we're a competitive bunch ... well not much! 

Our first wine was a can of fizz from Most Wanted. I would not normally buy wine in a can but I can see great benefits in the future - on the train, on the ferry, picnics ... so many possibilities.

I don't think I have had sparkling Pinot Grigio before and my thoughts are that this is not made using the traditional method but in large vats. There were plenty of large bubbles which did last in the glass. It had more flavour than some Proseccos we've had and although a little sweet for me it would be one I'd buy again, especially for holidays or days out. 

Our second tasting was our first white wine. We've been drinking J P Chenet wines for many many years in France on holiday and have bought many bottles home. The uniqueness of this brand is that all their wine is in a wonky bottle. A long time ago we bought six cases of their various wines ... because each box had a free wonky stemmed glass haha. We still have the glasses, it's quite funny seeing them lopsided on the table especially if set for a dinner party - just a bit of fun!

Sauvignon Blanc is my favourite wine especially from the Loire Valley. It was so nice to revisit the aromas of this dry white wine, it felt like being back where I belong. Overall this is a fair wine, the expected flavours are there if a little light. It's a very easy drinking version of a Sauvignon Blanc, great for a large party or BBQ in the summer.

Pinot Grigio is a fairly new wine to me, not in knowledge but in drinking. It isn't one I would choose, for some reason I don't look at Italian wines when wine shopping. Our daughter prefers this grape as she finds Sauvignon Blanc too dry so we always open a bottle or two when we're together.

This was Tesco's own brand and apart from it being Italian I know very little else. It was crisp and it was dry but for me it had very little flavour and a watery finish. Although this is available in a full size bottle it isn't one for me.

At our wine tasting evenings we always have a pot luck buffet where everyone brings something for the table and we all share the delicious food that has been brought. A bit tricky when doing a virtual wine tasting but we did have a snack break.

I was very surprised when we poured this wine, it's colour was very light and made me think it was a Pinot Noir. Again a Tesco own brand this Cabernet Sauvignon was from Spain. Not the usual location for this grape and it did lack the depth of other Cabernet Sauvignon wines I have had, maybe the Spanish sun had made it lighter. It is also available in a full size bottle and would be a great wine to use for Sangria but not to drink as a wine if you were looking for deep Cabernet Sauvignon flavours.

Our quiz questions with each wine were causing a little head scratching but the last round based on red wine in general had near full house points scored. As with all quizzes the answers can be contentious but if Google says it is then it must be right, right? One question nicely linked our previous wine to our final mini tasting ...

Which wine overtook Cabernet Sauvignon in popularity in 1990s?      Merlot 

Another wine from J P Chenet this Merlot was the overall favourite of the evening. It did have plenty of fruit on the nose and in flavour. As with their Sauvignon Blanc this wine is a great easy drinker, Hubby and I both said we should buy this brand again.

Thank you Nick, Alan, Bev, Rob and Kathy for another fun night, it was so good to be wine tasting again .... someday our glasses will chink in real time, until then here's to another virtual cheers!