When presented with the opportunity to join a Canadian contingent of journalists on an annual week-long tour of Germany, I jump at the chance. Unfortunately, five minutes before takeoff “Flu Boy” sits down beside me, and my heart sinks. A wine journalist’s worst fear is to lose the acuity of his senses due to illness. And a stuffy nose, deadened taste buds and drippy eyes await me. So I pop a few pills, close my eyes and pray to the wine gods floating around the aircraft for deliverance.
May 6: the Nahe
Bacchus is on my side, and I land in Frankfurt
no worse for wear. There, I hook up with the rest of our group and we
board the van for the one-hour drive to the Rheingau. Arriving at the
Hotel Schwan, we unpack and meet downstairs for brunch. Ron Fiorelli,
our leader from the German Wine Bureau, orders for us: white Spargel
(asparagus) and potatoes. Served with Hollandaise sauce, it hits the
spot. Ron informs us that the Rheingau and the Pfalz are the prime
growing areas for Spargel and that we all should expect to eat tonnes
of the stuff over the next week — that isn’t going to be a problem.
As South African wines take up more
space in our cellars, the way we look at Syrah versus Shiraz promises
to get a lot more interesting. If you’re finding it more difficult
to navigate the aisles in search of a new Syrah/Shiraz to take home,
you’re not alone. Many ask, “Wait, they’re both from the same
grape? What is the difference between the two?” Well, it’s
semantic. The varietal is Syrah in France, but the Australians
created a winemaking style from the same grape and dubbed it Shiraz —
I guess Fruit Bomb would have been too big a moniker. Since then a
lot has changed. Some French winemakers have taken to labelling their
product Shiraz to cash in on the enormous popularity of Australia’s
now-signature style. Likewise, several Australian wineries are going
for upmarket Old World appeal by adopting the more sophisticated
Syrah name.
Where we come from gives us our sense of being. But where we’re from is more than just geography. It’s our parents, our environment and the many individuals who influence us over the course of our lives. It defines us, forms our personality and contributes to that element which determines who we are, what we believe in and how we live our lives … our soul.
Of the thousands of wines I have experienced over the course of my lifetime, I cannot think of any that possesses the soul of Barolo. “The wine of kings and the king of wines” has captured the imagination, palate and emotions of wine lovers everywhere — not just me. It is Italy’s most famous wine and perhaps its most complex and difficult to understand.
Tidings gets the scoop from Canada’s best sommeliers >>
When in doubt always ask. Whether you ask the sommelier or, in some instances, the waiter, you’ll get the benefit of experience. And in some cases, a good bottle of wine.
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