Saturday, December 7, 2013

Christmas Wishlist: Wine Tasting

I was so lucky to have had the chance to take wine tasting classes in Toulouse, France. Not only did my group get to taste local wines paired with local cheeses, we also learned how to analyze the pairings.

Here I am analyzing "les Jambes" (the legs) - an indication of the alcohol content of the wine.

Although the technique of pasteurization was developed in France (by Louis Pasteur), French cheeses are not legally required to be pasteurized. While this decreases their shelf life, it allows the cheese to retain its full flavor and body. 


In general, soft cheeses (such as Brie and Camembert) are paired with white wines, whereas hard cheeses (such as Parmesan and Asiago) are paired with red wines. As a rule, the stronger the flavor of the cheese, the stronger the wine should be that is paired with it.


I found this book on Pinterest, and thought it would make a great Christmas present for any wine aficionado or foodie. It can be found here on Amazon. 


Happy Tasting!



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