Wine appreciation is an art

                                                    There is no right or wrong in choosing wines, says Wolfgang Blass

MY LIFESTYLE MOMENT
Singapore, August 4, 2009 - WINE drinkers would say that wine appreciation is an art. And, like art, a lot depends on personal taste.

Legendary founder of Wolf Blass Wines, Mr Wolfgang Blass (top), for example, told my paper in a recent interview that, when it comes to choosing wines, there is no “right” or “wrong” – it’s all up to the individual’s palate.

“There is no formula,” the German-born Australian winemaker said. “It depends on what types of flavour you want and what you enjoy.”

To him, a great wine simply “has to be smooth and easy to drink”.

Mr Blass was in town last month to celebrate his 75th birthday, as well as to launch his newest product, the Wolf Blass Super Premium Wines.

Wine expert George Samios, the global brand ambassador for Wolf Blass wines, agreed.

A good wine is about balance, he said. “The fruit flavours need to be integrated and it must be smooth... It cannot be too abrasive.”

He also maintained that cheap wine is not necessarily “bad” wine.

“People get confused by the price. They think you get what you pay for. But, sometimes, when you spend $20, you don’t get a better wine than when you spend $15,” he said.

“You need to experiment... You’ll notice the difference (in wine quality) when you do,” he said with a laugh.

And how does one tell if a wine is bad? You’ll have to taste it.

He explained: “If it’s a Shiraz that’s starting to lose its plum and berry character, then it’s starting to hit the bottom.”

Wolf Blass Wines can be found at major supermarkets.