5 Wine Myths To Leave Behind in 2020, As Told By A Wine Specialist
With home delivery of wines now becoming official in Mumbai, the ongoing lockdown can finally be turned around into more interesting days. Just call in your favourite wine, pair it with a complimentary dish and celebrate the fact that you’re halfway through 2020 already. Whatever you do, make sure you don’t fall prey to these wine myths that can ruin the mood of any sommelier. We got Apurva Gawande, a WSET Level 3 Certified in Wine, and who heads the education business at Sonal Holland Wine Academy, to tell us the biggest wine myths that we should be leaving behind in 2020 for good.
Stop picking corked wine bottles over ones with screw caps1- Wines with screw caps are inferior
Are you enamored by fancy corks and just can’t wait to show off your corkscrew opening skills? Well, there’s no harm in that as long as you know that bottle-capped wines are just as good, if not better sometimes. In fact, screw-capped wines age just as well, some would argue even better than wines finished with cork. Screwcaps came into existence as an effective solution against cork taint, and screwcap technology has made significant progress over time to become precise and efficient at what it does – which is keep its ingredient fresh without the risk of cork taint spoiling your wine.
Wine specialist Apurva Gawande2- Great wines have great legs / tears
Legs and tears? Yes, we’re still talking about wines. You see, the run-off inside your glass of wine after you take a sip is referred to as legs or tears. Some people believe that if a wine has more legs (or tears), then the wine is of a better quality compared to one that doesn’t. This isn’t true. More viscosity caused by alcohol and sugar in the wine, will create more pronounced legs. All wines have legs, some are just more pronounced than others. In either case, they are unremarkable and no indication of better quality.
3 – Wine is healthy (in all quantities)
Red wine drunk in moderation can be good for your health, thanks to antioxidants present in it. But wine, like any alcoholic beverage, needs to be consumed responsibly and in a balanced way. Educated, healthy behaviour about how much to drink, will quadruple that joy. So, stay in high spirits but also remember to take in the full sensory enjoyment of the beverage with care and know when enough is enough.
Don’t forget to sign up for Sonal Holland Wine Academy’s 60 Minute Wine Pro to learn more about wines4 – Only fine red wines are worth cellaring
With more of us learning about wines, the demand for specialised wine cellars is only going to go up. Some people believe that only classic wines or vintage wines deserve to be cellared. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, certain fine examples of white wines such as vintage Champagne, Sauternes, high quality Rieslings and dry whites from the Loire Valley, Western Australia and other regions producing high quality classic whites are just as age-worthy as reds.
5 – Expensive wine is always better
One of the biggest fallacies is that a cheap wine is of low quality. Wine prices are influenced by factors other than quality, such as location, image and prestige, scores that can elevate its price. On the flip side, wines from less familiar grapes, places and producers offer exceptional value for your budget. Don’t make the mistake of picking expensive wines in the hopes of exceptional taste. Your wallet and your palate will both thank you.
These are just some of the top myths that most people who drink wine usually have. However, the world of wines is much more fascinating and there is a lot to learn, even for a beginner. Recognising the growing demand for learning about wine education, especially in the current situation, led to the creation of the first-ever online wine course called 60 Minute Wine Pro by Sonal Holland Wine Academy.
The course is divided into ten modules and taught by India’s Master of Wine Sonal Holland. Participants can learn various aspects related to wine such as its journey from grape to glass, wine and food pairing, reading a wine label and more wine myths. Participants will also earn a certificate at the end of the course by completing a multiple-choice Q&A.
If you’re ever asked what you did during quarantine, we’re guessing very few things will be able to match up to a wine certificate bearing your name. Register for the course right away here.
