A Sauvignon Blanc - Allan Scott, Domaine du Carrou 2005 Sancerre, (or similar New Zealand or French )
A Chardonnay - Ferrari-Carano Alexander Valley 2004, (or similar wine)
A Riesling - Weingut Muller-Catoir Riesling Kabinett 2005, (or similar wine)
A Cabernet - Sauvignon Bocca di Lupo, Castel del Monte, Aglianico Tormaresca, 2003 (or similar Cab.)
A Shiraz - Layer Cake 2005 Barossa Valley, (or similar Australian Shiraz)
These wines are excellent examples of the following tastes: Acidity, Wood/Butter, Aromatics, Earth, Fruit and Tannins. The wines shown above are examples, the actural labels and vintage might change.. The Tasting will proceed as follows:
With nothing but a green apple to cleanse your palate between sips (Cheese will ruin your ability to discriminate), beginning with the whites, we will pour some chardonnay, and practice your technique. You can’t miss that buttery-oak flavor. Then spit it into a cup, so everything doesn’t start tasting plain wonderful. Then sample the Sauvignon blanc. Notice how much more acidic it is. As for the bouquet aroma of the Riesling, just swirl and sniff and you’ll be standing at the corner flower shop. Repeat with all three whites, and the differences will stand out even more. Tackle the reds next. That young Bordeaux puckers up your whole mouth with the bitter earthiness of a rocky hillside in Calabria. Once you can identify these tastes, you’ll know which you like best. Congratulations to the group!......Now it’s time to get yourself pleasantly hammered with the best of them!
As for food, Asiago, Brie, Pecorino Romano, Swiss all work. French crusty bread, or crackers, Grapes, Apple, Pears. As for the other materials: we want a small amount for each person. Oak Chips or shavings, Potting soil, grapefruit, pineapple, Pear, Green Apple, Tobacco leaf, Pencil Shavings, (Wood and Graphite) Dark Cherries, Vanilla extract, White Rose Petals. and Dark Chocolate. Only a small amount of each of these is necessary. I know this is a lot of work to put together, but the tasting is very educational and fun. If you want to go another way, consider the following tastings that could be done in the alternative: No “props” are needed for these