Degustare de vin de la Mennini - Guest Post

Autor: Laurentiu Badea de la AlienTower. 

Pe 27 aprilie, am fost invitat să particip la degustarea de vin organizată de Asociatia Bloggerilor Olteni si DictionarCulinar.ro. Vinurile au fost oferite de Crama Mennini, iar locatia a fost una superba, chiar la intrarea in Parcul Romanescu - Terasa Planter's. 

Dintre cele patru combinatii, mi-au placut vreo 3, dar o sa vorbesc despre a doua. 

A doua combinatie a fost Sauvignon Blanc + Tamaioasa Romaneasca si, respectiv, Emmentaler Delaco si struguri albi. Vinul a fost parfumat, adica am simtit imediat aroma de tamaioasa romaneasca. Desi nu sunt un expert in ale vinului, am trait la tara, langa viile de la Vanju Mare, Orevita Mare, Mehedinti. Am simtit, totodata, ca vinul este unul mai tare (am afla de la Ancuta Capatina, reprezentantul regional al cramei, ca are undeva in jur de 13 grade alcoolice). Aroma si gustul erau, cumva diferite si creau un echilibru perfect, intre ele, dar si cu Emmentaler-ul. 

Mi-a placut foarte mult Emmentaler Delaco, pentru ca era intens, puternic si cu o textura chewy, daca-mi este permis englezismul. Savoarea lui, impreuna cu strugurii albi si vinul de la Mennini au creat o combinatie interesanta pentru papilele gustative. Emmentaler-ul este doar aparent simplu, pentru ca, savurat incet, ii simti intensitatea crescand. 

Seara a fost una reusita, in compania unor oameni frumosi. Ancuta a facut o asociere la un moment dat intre vin si frumusetea oamenilor si cred ca are dreptate. Oamenii care savureaza vinul, il degusta, il simt si nu doar il beau, sunt oameni adunat impreuna printr-o poveste - povestea vinului, care dezleaga limbile. Si pentru ca sunt grafician, am admirat bannerul de la Mennini, cu Stelle di Mare, mi-a placut simplitatea lui si mesajul transmis, care ma ducea cu gandul la Frizzante Rose-ul servit la prima combinatie.

La finalul degustarii, am votat fiecare varianta lui, ritual care uneste oamenii prin zambet si ludic. E frumos sa le privesti chipurile zambind, in timp ce extrag un castigator sau isi primesc premiu. Asta pentru ca vinul este despre oameni si zambet. 

Wine Tasting of the Ages

Guest Post by Laurentiu Badea de la Alien Tower

I'm not much of a wine drinker, which makes me even less so a wine taster. I may never be able to fully appreciate the richness of a glass of wine, but I enjoy it as the finest beverage humanity has ever brewed. Wine doesn't draw out the poet in me to sing the praises it well deserves, but I understand it on a personal level, one that goes beyond the classy prestige. I grew up in a small, humble town, near a winery in Orevița Mare, and to have their own little vineyard on those plentiful hills was each of my  neighbor's yearning and most certainly part of their livelihood. 

I've participated at the yearly grape harvesting and juicing, I've tasted the sweet stum and bottled it in old demijohns, and lastly, played the waiting game. I've experienced the making of wine, the oldest of traditions, and yet I can't really tell one dry wine from another. However, I wish I could and I have a lucky opportunity to learn.

A week ago I've been invited at another exquisite wine tasting event by my friends in ASBO, every time a different locale, each time a better and enriching experience. This time, it was a special event in more than one way, held at Epoca, a stylish restaurant in Craiova. Laurențiu Achim Avram, president of the Sommelier Federation Romania, led our event with a remarkable tasting and insightful presentation of five varied wines,  combined with an assortment of cheeses.

One combination in particular stood out for me, a dry red wine with a dense texture and woody taste, obvious even for me. It's called Soare, which means Sun, name derived from the location of the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes it's made of, the most popular wine grape variety. The vine sits on the hills of Stârmina -- close to my hometown -- always facing the Sun. It was a smart decision to combine this rich wine with the creamy Brie splashed with a bit of honey. 

The tastes really complement themselves. A strong wine with a great array of spicery that only get richer with age, and a smooth cheese that sets the combination apart by diluting the alcohol and thus releasing all the best flavors of the wine on the taste buds, making it a powerful combination everyone should enjoy.

This event Branzeturi cum se ... cuVin was organized by Asociatia Bloggerilor Olteni and Dictionar Culinar.ro.