7x Sommelier Secrets, Part 2
What food goes best with champagne? Where can you find Italy’s most impressive wine cellar? And how do you aerate wine without a decanter? Sommeliers know this better than anyone. We asked them about their personal secrets, hidden gems and ultimate tips.
Thin glasses
The glass you drink your wine from is hugely important. Expensive wine in a Duralex glass tastes less good than cheap wine in top-quality glassware. Invest in good wine glasses and your wine will always taste better! And LIFEHACK: this is how your wine glass ALWAYS fits in the dishwasher!
No decanter nearby?
There you are, romantically in the park or on the beach. You open a bottle of wine, only to discover that it is too harsh, too young, too green… Aerating usually helps, but of course you left the decanter at home. Don’t worry! This unorthodox method of aerating works too: place your thumb over the opening and give the bottle a firm double shake—the ‘bottle-shake‘.
Forgotten grape
Go and look for white wine made from xarel-lo. This little grape has been planted in Catalonia for around 130 years, but until recently was used only in the blend for Cava. On its own, it produces a spicy wine with subtle pear and green-apple aromas. Another fun fact: the skin of the xarel-lo grape is packed with antioxidants—many times more than all types of red berries.
Fries with champagne
Lowbrow meets highbrow in this incredible combination. The acidity of the champagne cuts through the greasiness of the fries like a knife, making it a perfect match.
A glass in the bath
Drinking a glass of wine in the bath? Why not? Just make sure to match the wine’s aroma to the aroma of the bath oil. Add a rubber duck or another toy and enjoy!
A splash of sherry
Want to come across as worldly and really surprise your guests? Add a splash of dry oloroso—the bold, whisky-like sherry—to your champagne.
In a crate
A golden tip if you don’t want to spend much money but still want to make a generous impression. Wrap a simple Bordeaux from the supermarket or liquor store in a beautiful wine bag—or, even better, a crate. It will quickly look like quite something.
Italy’s most impressive wine cellar
At the home restaurant of famous Italian winemaker Angelo Gaja in Piedmont, you look out over the rolling hills of northern Italy while eating the most delicious dishes. How about ravioli served in a bale of hay? And frog legs? During truffle season, you absolutely must try this local fungus here. Afterwards, ask if you can see the wine cellar: one of the most impressive in Italy (it has everything! and much of it in magnum bottles!). (laciaudeltornavento.it)
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