Grapevine Socials
Do you want to know your Chardonnay from your Sauvignon Blanc? or learn a bit about vintages, buying en primeur, terroir, how to store your wine or how to match wine with food. All in the company of other wine enthusiasts (singles and couples welcome). Well, Grapevine Socials is a great place to start.
Here's what makes wine tasting a great way to make new friends.
* The people you meet at a wine tasting evening all share an interest with you. That means there should be no shortage of conversation as you discuss the wines you've tasted and what you think of them.
* Whilst drinking too much on a first date isn't a great idea, having a glass of wine does help you relax.
* By going along to something like a wine tasting evening, even if you don't meet someone special you will come away with a lot of knowledge and a whole load of friends with shared interests.
So, why not try an evening with Grapevine Socials. Right at the moment, their events are focussed on trying English Wines, but they are planning to provide a full tour of the wineries of the world.
If your interest in wine is a little more serious, then we recommend The London Wine Academy who run wine tasting days and evening courses. Their day wine tasting events are highly recommended and include lunch at a decent gastropub or london restaurant.
Learning more about Wine
Just to get you started...here are a few of the grape types that you might get to recognise...
White Grape Types
Chardonnay: Apple, Fig, Melon, Pear, Pineapple, Lemon Grapefruit, Spice, Honey, Butter, Hazelnut
Chenin Blanc/Steen: Subtle melon, peach, spice and citrus - often used for blending
French Columbard: Clean simple, firm acidity
Gewurtztraminer: Floral & refreshing with crisp acidity, rich, complex, dry to sweet!
Marsanne: Full bodied, intense with spice pear and citrus notes
Muscat: Strong spice and floral notes, often used for blending…
Pinot Blanc: Intense , concentrated, completx with ripe pear, spice honey and citrus
Pinot gris/grigio: Soft, gently perfumed, more coloured and charming than most whites
Riesling: Floral perfume, spice, exhuberant, full bodied
Sauvignon Blanc: Grassy/Herbal with a notable aroma
Semillion: complex fig, pear, tobacco and honey notes - often blended with Sauvignon Blanc
Trebbiano: highly acid italian white
Viognier: Floral spicy white wine
Red Grape Types
Barbera: Deep ruby red, low tannin, berrylike flavour bright & crisp
Brunello: Luscious black and red fruit flavours, chewy tannins
Cabernet Franc_ Intense and full bodied, can have stalky green flavour, chocolate & roasted coffee, rich uplifting fruit
Cabernet Sauvignon: Blackberry, Current, Plum, Black Cherry, Spice, Can be tannic, firm acidity intense concentrated
Charbono: Rare Californian
Dolcetto: Soft round fruity, licorice and almonds
Gamay: Low alcohol, high acid, fruity
Grenache: Fruity, Spicy, Medium-bodied with supple tannins
Malbec: Mostly used for blending
Merlot: Herby cherry and chocolate flavours, light & soft
Mourvedre: Spicy cherry, moderate tannins
Nebbiolo: Strong flavourful and age worthy wines
Petite Sirah: Mostly used for blending, ripe berry flavours, crisp chewy tannins
Pinot Noir: Classic black cherry, spice, raspberry, current, wilted roses, earth, tar, herbs, cola
Sangiovese: Spice raspberry, cherry, anise. Helps add a smooth texture and supple tannins
Syrah/Shiraz: Pepper, spice, black cherry, tar, leather, roasted nut. Rich and complex
Tempranillo: Back bone of spanish reds!
Zinfandel: Quintissential Californian. Berry/cherry ripe, intense and tannic
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