It seems that enjoying wine while camping isn't that common, which is surprising to me.
I've been taking wine with me on camping trips with my family for about 10 years now (although I haven't been able to go for the last 2 years or so). And in those 10 years, I've seen more and more wine bottles in the trash at campsites. So I thought it was pretty normal.
"Camping x New Zealand Wine" is making our bodies and minds happy
However, when I say to people at the counter , "I like to drink wine while camping," I usually get responses like, "Wow, that's cool," or "I didn't know there was an option like that!"
In my case, I have no intention of being fashionable, and my choices are ordinary. I simply want to enjoy wine with the food I eat when camping with my family. Or rather, I just want to drink wine outdoors. However, wine is difficult to drink on a day trip outdoors (because I'm the driver). So I stay overnight. In other words, camping. I've been doing this for such a simple reason. I've never not brought wine camping. Camping food, wine, and a bonfire are paradise. If the wine is New Zealand wine, it's perfect.
So about six months ago, when I mentioned camping to the production team for this site, they told me, "I don't think there are many people who are as passionate about wine as you are when it comes to camping."
I see!
So I thought why not write an article about how to enjoy wine while camping, and that's how I came up with this article.
▶ A sommelier's guide! How to casually enjoy wine at camp
I hope that people who read this article will take wine with them when they go outdoors. It would be nice to have more people like that.
Well, I started going camping with my family 10 years ago, but since my children got older, club activities and plans with friends have taken priority, so I haven't been able to go recently.
I remember playing "Wild Plant Bingo" with my family...
Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic, camping has become popular again. That's great. I'd love to go. But my family won't go anymore.
So, let's try solo camping!
I have the tools and know some good campsites. Maybe drinking some good wine alone outside will help relieve the sense of blockage caused by the coronavirus. Okay, time for my solo debut.
However, since I had always camped with my family, I thought it might be different if I went solo. Just like how it's different for Jon Bon Jovi when he goes by the name Bon Jovi and when he goes by the name Jon Bon Jovi. I don't know.
So, I decided to practice camping in a tent in the closed Bokumo store using some solo equipment I had bought. I thought it might be lonely at night, but when I did an Instagram live, a lot of people joined in, so I didn't feel lonely at all. I was very grateful. It was good to be able to practice pitching a tent and cooking.
Solo camping at Bokumo store
Okay, I can do it! So I thought to myself, and on March 10th, I went on my first solo camping trip.
The result was... failure. What a shame.
I realized that I was a bit naive. First of all, up until now, I had only been to camps during relatively easy times like Golden Week or summer vacation. I didn't really know what camping in March was like.
On the day, the wind blew hard, the tent was flattened, the chairs rolled over, and the temperature dropped suddenly. My body was like sorbet at night because I hadn't taken any precautions against the cold. I gave up on the tent and tried to sleep in the car, but I was so shivering that I spilled wine inside the car. Wine tastes good when you drink it, but it stinks when you spill it. Ugh.
Finally, in the morning, the wind died down so we tried to make a bonfire, but the firewood was damp and wouldn't light at all. In the stinging cold, chattering our teeth, we managed to gather some fallen twigs and get a fire going, but by the end we were like, "What on earth did we come here to do?"
The result of underestimating nature
If you think about it, the restaurant is run by teamwork with the chefs and staff, and the camping trips with my family are also run by teamwork with my family. Ah, that's right. Up until now, I've relied a lot on my team. I didn't appreciate how grateful I was, and I mistakenly thought I could do well on my own. Just like Jon Bon Jovi said, "I can make hit songs even if I leave Bon Jovi." I don't know.
Anyway, I think somewhere along the line I was underestimating my solo activities. Even if I had practiced inside a shop, there was air conditioning, a refrigerator, and water. It was completely different from nature (which seems too obvious now that I think about it). In the end, I performed with a huge lack of preparation, and nature dealt me a slap in the face. I'm sorry to my family. I'm sorry to the staff. "Always" is not "natural." And I'm sorry, Nature-senpai.
I can't keep going like this. Next time, I'll prepare properly. I'll get revenge and prove for myself that New Zealand wine is the perfect wine for camping . That's right, that's what I want to do on my solo camping trip.
Seriously, New Zealand wines are perfect for the outdoors and BBQs. This is something I've become convinced of through my experience as a sommelier and camping. I want to convey this through photos and videos on this website.
Next time is April. If it's a campsite in Mie Prefecture, it probably won't turn into sorbet. I'm sure I'll be able to take some great photos of solo camping and New Zealand wine. I'm a new and well-prepared solo John, so please look forward to it (I'm putting pressure on myself).
This week's wine and snacks
GIBBSTON VALLEY CENTRAL OTAGO
RED SHED PINOT BLANC 2017
Until recently, Central Otago in New Zealand was called the southernmost wine producing region on Earth (although now there is a wine producing region in Chile, which is at a higher latitude).
People tend to think that the southern part of the Southern Hemisphere is extremely cold, but in fact, there is a lot of sunshine in the summer, which is why grapes with high sugar content can be harvested there.
The most famous variety is Pinot Noir , and Central Otago has many places where the climate and soil are perfect for Pinot Noir, producing high-quality wines that are recognized around the world.
Well, this wine is made from Pinot Blanc, a white Pinot . Pinot Blanc is a very rare variety in NZ (it originates in Alsace, France, and is said to have originated as a mutation of the black Pinot Noir). The flavor is simple and gentle. It often produces a straightforward white wine that is easy to drink.
Gibbston Valley Winery is a pioneering winery in Central Otago and is extremely famous locally. The beautiful winery with its large cellars has become a tourist attraction. It is easily accessible from Queenstown, so it is often featured in tour brochures.
However, the last time I went to NZ, my schedule didn't allow me to visit, so I'm sure I'll be able to next time.
This wine is not a typical bright New Zealand wine, but rather has a gentle, subtle taste. The subtle citrus flavor that spreads slowly in the mouth is strangely reminiscent of Japanese wine.
This inspired me to pair it with tempura , a classic example of refined Japanese cuisine.
My wife made me some tempura for dinner and I reheated it in the oven when I got home from work. It doesn't look very appetizing, but it tastes GOOD.
Sprinkle some rock salt on it and it goes perfectly with Pinot Blanc. They are like a refined couple who don't say much. They look great together with their smiles.
