Tidings Magazine

It seems only fitting that the country producing both the greatest quantity and the greatest variety of wine in the world should also host the globe’s largest wine show. Over 4,000 wineries and 100,000 wine lovers gathered in the literary home of Romeo and Juliet for an event that is frequently billed as “another love story in Verona.”

Primarily a showcase for Italian producers, the five-day April extravaganza could be expanded to last a whole month and it still would not be enough time for the avid wine geek to experience the multiplicity of varietals and wine styles this regionally diverse country has to offer.

I’m lucky. My passion is also my profession. But wine and food are not my only passions. Great music also elicits the same strong emotional responses. Unfortunately, I am void of any musical talent. Growing up, I took the requisite piano, guitar and drum lessons, and while I could hear the music in my head and feel the music in my soul, it never quite sounded as good when delivered by my fingers. Oh yeah, I can’t sing either.

10. White wine should be served cold and red wine should be served warm.

The biggest mistake when serving wine is serving white wine too cold and red wine too warm. White wine is meant to be served chilled, not ice-cold. Let me qualify that: well-made white wine is meant to be served chilled, not ice-cold. Too cold and all the flavours and aromas will be muted. A well-made white wine is actually more expressive and tasty when it is only slightly chilled. In fact, a great white wine will taste good at room temperature. Now, if you have a poorly made white wine, chill the hell out of it and you won’t be able to taste anything. But then, we shouldn’t be drinking cheap wine, should we?