The first thing you learn when you start studying wine is you don’t know as much as you think. The wine universe can be a humbling one because the moment you think you have a good handle on it you suddenly are exposed to a multitude of new regions, appellations, producers and grape varieties.
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There are lot ways to learn about wine. You can spend years studying for your Diploma Degree from the Wine & Spirt Education Trust (As I did years ago) or say goodbye to your friends and family as you attempt to obtain your “Master Sommelier” certification with the Court of Master Sommeliers.
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So I was at a private Grower Champagne event last week at Osgoode Hall in Toronto.
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We are all guilty of judging a book by its cover; we’re all filled with pre-conceived notions. Now that’s not always a bad thing. I don’t recommend you order the salmon at the gas station, pick up the hitch hiker wearing the goalie mask or gambling on the Detroit Lions to win on the road.
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You can’t have a wine event and not start it off without bubbly. It gives the party a heightened sense of formality, it’s the perfect light/acidic drink to kick things off and it goes well with so many foods. Beyond that it’s just fun.
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When it comes to your personal preferences for wine everyone has to start somewhere. More importantly those preferences are supposed to evolve over time. As a 21-year-old university student I thought Merlot was an Italian wine, and I couldn’t tell the difference between a buttery Chardonnay and a bone dry Riesling.
Read MoreI bring all this up because this column is all in praise of cheap wine. I know the word “cheap” brings negative connotations. However, just because a wine is not expensive does not mean it isn’t well made.
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It took longer than normal in Canada this year for the sort of weather that allows for extended patio stays and the realization that maybe you should maybe have put on suntan lotion. But we’re finally here! So with the weather finally warm it’s time to give some tips on what to drink this summer.
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In my first column I poked some fun at some of the pretentious elements that exist in the wine world. Let’s be honest: they are unnecessary, they give people who love wine a bad name and can act as a barrier to people looking to explore this world.
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Matt The Wine Guy loves discovering the difference between a German Riesling to one made 45 minutes away from his Toronto home. But as someone who has studied wine for years, he recognizes that he may be in the minority. So he wants to teach you how to become an insta-wine snob in seven steps!
