In Vino Et Musicorum Veritas - Wine Matching 2.0

Have you ever had an amazing experience with a particular wine at a dinner party, only to be disappointed when you buy it later in a store and and find that it tastes nothing like you remember?

There is an incredible phenomenon of extrinsic factors having an impact on the taste of a wine, the main one being the food you are having your wine with. If your host wisely matched a Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay with a Salmon tartare, the texture and length of the wine would have balanced magically with the acidity of the lemon and the bold rawness of the fish and both the wine and dish would have tasted better. The wine essentially acts as the best “sauce” that dish could have hoped for.

The other factor that is often underestimated is the atmosphere and people with whom you are drinking a particular wine; the conversation, or the music in the background. Recent research suggests that music, especially, has a significant impact on our discernment of food and drink, and is a key “Third Musketeer” of the equation.

This makes sense as we intuitively understand that our senses do not act in isolation, but as a group. They are like a jazz band, working together to enhance each other.

The brain – and therefore taste – is influenced by ‘outside’ surroundings when eating and drinking. If the surroundings are pleasurable, so is the taste.

FACTS

• It is always more pleasing to eat something that is appealing and well presented in a plate than something that isn’t. (sight)

• Something that smells amazing will most likely taste good. (Smell)

• Listening to your favourite tune makes you feel good. (Hearing)

Now that you have the big picture let’s put everything together in our Top 10 best Music – Wine – Food suggestions!

1 - James Brown – FUNK

NV Delamere Rose BRUT PINOT NOIR Tasmania, Australia

Prawn cocktails.

2 - Jimi Hendrix – ROCK EXPERIMENTAL

2017 Ahearne PLAVAC MALI Dalmatia, Croatia

Black Angus Porterhouse, Red Wine Jus and Handcut Chips.

3 – W.A Mozart – CLASSICAL

2015 JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Auslese RIESLING Mosel, Germany

Spicy Soft Shell Crab.

4 - Django Reinhardt – JAZZ SWING

2005 Revelation de Grimardy MERLOT BLEND Montravel, France

Crispy Pork Belly with Jerusalem Artichoke.

5 - Bob Marley – REGGAE

2017 Serge Dagueneau Pouilly Fume SAUVIGNON BLANC Loire Valley, France

Smoked Salmon, Lemon, Dill and Cream Cheese Bagel.

6 - Amy Winehouse – SOUL

2009 Vina Gravonia Rioja Blanco R.Lopez de Heredia VIURA BLEND Rioja, Spain

Grilled Turbot with Lemon Butter Sauce and Mediterranean Vegetables.

7 – Tool – PROGRESSIVE METAL

2012 Gerardo Cesari Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico CORVINA BLEND Veneto Italy

Lamb Cutlets with Rosemary and Smoked Eggplant.

8 – Jamiroquai – MODERN FUNK

2018 Castagna Growers Selection SAVAGNIN Beechworth Australia

French Onion Soup.

9 – Bon Iver - INDIE POP

2018 Felton Road Block 5 PINOT NOIR Central Otago, New Zealand

Confit Duck Leg with Carot and Orange Puree.

10 – Miles Davis – JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL

2018 Rohrer Hors Piste PINOT GRIS (Skin contact) Alsace France

Roasted Quail with Sage and Crispy Prosciutto, Corn on the Cob.

Bringing wine, food and music together is one of our favourite things to do at V Wine Salon. It is not an exact science -- and these elements can obviously be magical by themselves -- but matched properly, the right combinations can open up a whole other world before our very eyes (and tastebuds!)

Music and wine sessions will soon be starting at V Wine Salon on Tuesday nights. Keep an eye out for them!