food-and-wine-pairing-a-sensory-experience-robert-harrington
food-and-wine-pairing-a-sensory-experience-robert-harrington
food-and-wine-pairing-a-sensory-experience-robert-harrington
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d. White Zinf<strong>and</strong>el<br />
Worst match 1. 2.<br />
3.<br />
Observations:<br />
e. Sauternes<br />
4. Best match<br />
Worst match 1. 2.<br />
3.<br />
Observations:<br />
4. Best match<br />
Exercise 5.4 119<br />
f. Cream Sherry<br />
Worst match 1. 2.<br />
3.<br />
Observations:<br />
4. Best match<br />
5. Did you find the best <strong>food</strong>-<strong>and</strong>-<strong>wine</strong> matches occurred when the <strong>food</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>wine</strong> sweetness levels were equal, when <strong>food</strong> sweetness<br />
was less than <strong>wine</strong> sweetness, or when <strong>food</strong> sweetness was greater than <strong>wine</strong> sweetness?<br />
6. Did you identify other <strong>food</strong> or <strong>wine</strong> characteristics that contributed more to a sensation of match than sweetness did?<br />
7. Other observations?<br />
This exercise is designed to establish<br />
baseline measures of acidity levels in<br />
<strong>wine</strong>s ranging from flat to tart. The table<br />
below provides examples of a range of<br />
acidity levels in white <strong>wine</strong>s. The examples<br />
for this exercise are those shown as<br />
anchors in the Wine Sensory Anchor<br />
Scale. The <strong>wine</strong> sample with the lowest<br />
acidity in this exercise will be the warmclimate-zone<br />
Chardonnay. Chardonnay<br />
<strong>wine</strong>s have less acidity than most white<br />
<strong>wine</strong>s. The lower acidity will be partly<br />
due to the varietal, the warm climate<br />
(meaning riper grapes), <strong>and</strong> the aging<br />
process (if aged in oak). It is best to stick<br />
with New World selections for the Chardonnay<br />
sample in this exercise, such as<br />
warm areas of California (Central Valley,<br />
San Joaquin Valley), Texas, northern<br />
Chile (Aconcagua Valley), or parts of Australia<br />
(New South Wales, Hunter Valley).<br />
For the second level of acidity, a Fumé<br />
Blanc is suggested. The term Fumé Blanc<br />
was first used in the United States by<br />
Robert Mondavi in 1968. At the time, Sauvignon<br />
Blanc was a less popular varietal,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Mondavi coined the term to reflect a<br />
style similar to that of French Pouilly<br />
Fumé, which uses the same grape varietal.<br />
Fumé Blanc is grown in moderate-<br />
EXERCISE 5.4<br />
RANKING ACIDITY LEVELS IN WINE<br />
climate areas such as California <strong>and</strong> generally<br />
undergoes some aging in oak. Both<br />
of these issues should reduce the total<br />
acidity level below that of unoaked Sauvignon<br />
Blanc from cool-climate areas.<br />
The third level of acidity is reflective of<br />
Sauvignon Blanc produced in moderateto<br />
cool-climate areas of New Zeal<strong>and</strong>,<br />
California, <strong>and</strong> Washington. From New<br />
Zeal<strong>and</strong>, select <strong>wine</strong>s from Hawkes Bay,<br />
Auckl<strong>and</strong>, or Gisborne. For the highest<br />
example of acidity, select Sauvignon<br />
Blanc from Sancerre or the Marlborough<br />
region of New Zeal<strong>and</strong>. A second option<br />
for high levels of acidity is to try coolclimate<br />
Riesling from Germany or Canada.<br />
While the Wine Sensory Anchor<br />
Scale indicates that the Chardonnay will<br />
have a numerical value of about 1–2, it<br />
could range from 0 to 3 on the acidity<br />
scale depending on your <strong>wine</strong> selection.<br />
This variability is true for the other <strong>wine</strong><br />
suggestions as well. Your perception of<br />
acidity will vary depending on the <strong>wine</strong><br />
selection, the temperature at which it is<br />
assessed, <strong>and</strong> your individual ability in<br />
assessing acidity (separating sweetness<br />
or bitterness from acidity). Therefore,<br />
during the tasting, you may find some<br />
of the <strong>wine</strong>s to be closer or have a<br />
greater range of separation in acidity<br />
level than that shown in the Wine Sensory<br />
Anchor Scale. The numerical values<br />
are intended to provide you with a baseline<br />
to work from as you learn to assess<br />
acidity in <strong>wine</strong>.<br />
OBJECTIVE<br />
The primary objectives are to identify differences<br />
in acidity levels in <strong>wine</strong>s <strong>and</strong> to<br />
establish a numerical baseline for reliable<br />
future assessment. This exercise also<br />
provides <strong>experience</strong> in <strong>wine</strong> evaluation<br />
as a whole <strong>and</strong> specifically in assessing<br />
the balance between sweetness <strong>and</strong><br />
acidity.<br />
Mise en Place: Things to Do Before<br />
the Exercise Prior to evaluation,<br />
become familiar with the numerical examples<br />
shown in the Wine Sensory Anchor<br />
Scale (Figure B.2). Keep this scale<br />
<strong>and</strong> an aroma wheel at your side as a reference<br />
during the evaluation process.<br />
While this exercise focuses on acidity,<br />
don’t miss this opportunity to do an informal<br />
evaluation of the other elements<br />
in each <strong>wine</strong> sample.