Here, Iwasu, the sommelier who oversees this website, answers the questions of Nacchan and Mika, who are new to wine.
There are many tips to help you feel closer to wine, which may seem intimidating at first.
Will they be able to find a wine that they both enjoy?
First, start by choosing a wine.
When choosing a wine, the first thing you look at is the label. But when you see a wine section lined with labels, it can be a bit overwhelming.
Yeah, the covers are so similar that they all look the same.
I can't tell what it tastes like just by looking at it. Wine seems difficult to understand.
Well, please don't say that (lol)
Now let's talk about how to choose wine.
Let's start with the question , "What should I look at when choosing wine?"
yes!
please!
-
Natchan
I'm 29 years old and work for a web company. I'm studying wine in the hopes of being able to enjoy it more.
- Mika is 35 years old and works at an apparel company. She is getting into wine and is really interested in wine glasses.
- Iwasu is a sommelier who oversees this website. He runs a bar in Nagoya that stocks a wide range of New Zealand wines.
Be aware of the country: "Which country is the wine from?"
The way you look at a wine label changes depending on which country it is from .
So first of all,
- European wine?
- Are they wines from other countries known as the New World?
Let's check it out.
So you first think about the country?
I agree.
In both New World and Old World wines, the largest piece of information printed prominently on the label is usually the name of the winery or producer.
This is what we call the wine name or brand.
But it's important to remember that what's important is everything else .
The important thing is elsewhere...
Huh, a serious topic...?
Hahaha (laughs)
Not heavy, not heavy lol
This is because even if you manage to remember the name of a winery, it is actually quite rare to come across wines from the same winery.
Stop buying wines just for the cover! "There's no point in memorizing the wine names"
The two of you,
"I learned the name of a delicious wine, but it's not sold anywhere else..."
"The one with this label was delicious, so I thought I'd buy it again from the same store... but they don't sell it anymore!"
Have you ever had an experience like this?
For example, you can probably buy the same beer, sake, and shochu products at different stores, but the selection of imported wines varies from store to store. It may be the type of alcohol that best reflects the individuality of the store.
Of course, if you go to the same store, there is a chance that the same wine will be sold there.
For example, convenience stores. If you go to a store of the same chain, the lineup is almost the same. So if you try a wine and think it's delicious, you can buy it anywhere in the country. However, the convenience store industry is a world where new products are quickly turned over, so there is a good chance that it will eventually no longer be sold.
So, when you find yourself wondering, "Where can I buy that delicious wine?", all you can remember is the name of the wine and the jacket. You have no clue.
Unfortunately, even if you manage to memorize the names of wineries and the designs of their labels in this way, this will just be "experience points that you can't use at other stores."
Oh, I see...!
That's too obvious... (crying)
So the name of the winery isn't that important.
So what should I look at before buying?
The most important thing when choosing wine is
- Origin
- Grape varieties
These two.
If you look for and choose products that clearly state these things, you will be able to get closer to the wine that suits your taste.
Which production area is recommended for beginners?
So, which place of production should I choose?
When you think of wine, you think of France, right?
Well, let's start by choosing France, a country with a long history of wine.
To get to know French wine, start by learning about the following 10 wine-producing regions.
Ten?!
No, no, 10 all of a sudden is a bit...
Hahaha, you're right, then five would be fine, about five like the ones that commonly sell in Japan!
- Bordeaux
- Burgundy
- Champagne
- Alsace
- Loire
- Rhône
- Provence
That's about it.
Wait, I said five!
Sparta~
French wine = wine that requires study
However, there are many famous place names in France, so it might be quite easy to get into.
I agree.
However, many of the best-value French wines come from less well-known regions, like the really obscure areas among the 10 wine-producing regions I mentioned earlier.
For example, for people who say, "I like astringent, rich red wines!", wines from the Rhone region of southern France are a standard choice, but wines from such major wine-producing regions are rarely sold in supermarkets. They're too expensive.
So what kind of things are they selling? A lot of them are from slightly more obscure regions like the Southwest.
Should West…
Hmm, I've never heard of it...
That's right. But red wines from the southwest of France are rich and astringent, and you can get a satisfying "I drank that!" feeling by buying them cheaply.
So, what this means is…
- If you want to choose a good French wine, it's going to be pretty pricey!
- If it's from a minor place of origin or mass-produced, you can get it cheaply!
I see…!
I've explained this at length, but let me get straight to the conclusion.
French wine is for people who want to learn about French wine.
It feels like that!
You said it so decisively! (laughs)
Yes (laughs)
If you just think "France is great" randomly, it will remain that way forever. If you don't have the intention to study the regions of France, you will never be able to move on from buying books just because of the cover.
So without the desire to pursue it, there's no progress.
It's not moving forward.
I guess I need to be prepared to study French wine...
If you're starting to drink wine now, we recommend New World
So, let's forget about France for a moment. If you're looking to become a wine fan, I recommend starting with the New World.
Of course, if you have a lot of money and time, I think you should start with French wine.
The reason for this is that the basic principles of wine are modeled on European wines, particularly those from France.
For now, I don’t think I can do it… (laughs)
I don’t have the money or the time…
Yes, it's okay if you don't follow the textbook exactly!
There are a huge number of wines imported into Japan now that are not from France.
In addition, in the New World, there are many "varietal wines" that are made from a single type of grape, so it is easy to grasp the characteristics of the variety.
In addition, the labels are easy to understand and read, which I think is very important for beginners.
For example, the New World representative "Chile" is recommended as it has many products with good value for money and is easy to obtain.
I see! Got it! I'll study French wine later!
I hope that day will come someday (laughs).
[Continued in Part 2 !]
