BACK TO BASICS: PRIMARY WINE STYLES
6th December 2023
Embarking on the journey into the vast world of wine might seem daunting given the multitude of labels available. However, as diverse as wine is, it is categorised into three different styles; red, white and rosé.
White Wine
White wine's defining feature is acidity, making top-tier varieties "tart" or "crisp”. They typically have fruity aromas and the acidity complements food flavors or reduces fishy tang in seafood dishes. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio are popular white wine varietals.
Red Wine
Arguably the most famous style, is characterised as "leathery" or "firm" to suggest that the wine has robust and structured quality, with textures ranging from "soft and smooth" to "rough and chewy". This only indicates that the wine's tannins are pronounced therefore making it feel a bit coarse in the mouth. Its colour and tannin content come from naturally occurring compounds in grape skin.
Red wine offers a diverse aroma, spanning from flowery to fruity and earthy to spicy. Notable varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir.
Rosé wine
Rosé, also known as blush wine due to its pink colour, is like red wine's more delicate and lighter bodied sibling. Like red wine, it is made from black grapes but achieves its relatively low tannin levels and colour through a shorter contact duration of grape skin in the fermentation process. Rosé's flavour resembles a light red wine with crisp fruity and floral notes. Among the sought-after types are white Zinfandels.
Spain's noble grape
8th November 2023
Tempranillo is a Spanish grape variety whose name is derived from the Spanish word "temprano," meaning "early" signifying its tendency to ripen early in the growing season. It is a thick-skinned, deeply coloured grape with flavours of red and black fruits, hints of vanilla, leather. Its higher tannins and acidity create a well-balanced structure, making it an excellent choice for aging. Well crafted Tempranillo wines age in cellar for more than 2 decades.
Spain and Portugal are especially known for Tempranillo but for different reasons. In Spain, it is mostly a single varietal wine but also plays a pivotal role in classic Spanish blends with grapes such as Garnacha. In Portugal, it is called Tinta Roriz and importantly blended in Port wines.
For its popularity, it is the dominant grape in Rioja, the first region in Spain to become a household name. It is also prominent in Ribera del Duero and Toro. Their limestone-rich soils, high altitudes and varying climates have a profound impact on Tempranillo's character. In Ribera del Duero and Toro, it is known for crafting robust and tannic wines while in Rioja it showcases its versatility by crafting stuctured but fruity wines.
When looking at the labels on a Tempranillo wine, you will see the terms Roble/Tinto, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. These are ageing terms in the winemaking process indicating oak use or the number of months (18-24) required in oak or bottle.
The varietal has successfully made its way to the New World with vineyards in California, Australia, and South America.
Tempranillo leaves turn bright red in Autumn
A Beginner’s Guide to Champagne
1st November 2023
Champagne is a sparkling wine exclusively produced in the Champagne region of Northeastern France. This region's climate, chalky soil, and centuries of winemaking tradition make it Champagne's authentic birthplace.
Champagne is primarily made from three grape varieties: Chardonnay (white), Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (red). These are usually blended to make a base wine which is dry, high in acidity and low in alcohol. The wine is then bottled with the intention to add yeast and sugar for the second fermentation and tightly sealed using a bottle cap. The by-product of the bottle fermentation is carbon dioxide which becomes the signature bubbles in Champagne. This production method, known as "Méthode Champenoise". The wine then matures for a legal minimum of 12 months or even years, allowing its flavours to develop complexity from the yeast sediments called 'lees'.
When the wine is ready, the bottles are positioned vertically to gradually slide the lees to the neck of the bottle and then only the neck is frozen. The winemaker then removes the cap on the bottle where the pressure inside forces out the frozen lees leaving the wine behind. The bottles are then finally sealed with the cork and cage that we know so well.
Champagne is usually labelled as either "Brut" to mean dry or "Demi-Sec" to mean sweet. Moreso, it comes in different styles including "blanc de blancs" meaning made of white grapes (100% Chardonnay) and "blanc de noirs" made from red grapes (the Pinot grapes).
The acidity and effervescence of Champagne complement rich and fatty foods like oysters or fried chicken. For the best tasting experience, use a tulip-shaped glass that allows the bubbles and aromas to shine. Flutes can limit aroma exposure.
Serve Champagne at a temperature of 7-9°C.
Frozen lees at the neck before disgorgement.
knowing red bordeaux wines
23rd October 2023
Bordeaux is a region situated in South-Western France where the first vines of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon originated from.
Defined by the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, Bordeaux is greatly influenced by them and a combination of diverse soils plus climate variations. This is because the rivers have split Bordeaux into two - the left bank (eg. Haut-Médoc and Graves) and the right bank (eg. Pomerol and St-Emilion).
While most Bordeaux wines are blends, it is easy to distinguish and identify which is which from the side of the rivers that they come from. This kind of information, you will usually find on a bottle label by the indication of the vineyard location like Pomerol for which grapes are dominant in a wine from the region.
For instance, Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant grape in a left bank wine while the same is true for Merlot in a right bank wine. Additionally, each grape contributes a distinct character to the wine: Cabernet Sauvignon adds body and character to a blend while Merlot mellows the flavours. These features in Bordeaux winemaking contribute to wines that are admired for their elegance and complexity.
Which side do you think you would like best?
an introduction to priorat
Let's delve into the fascinating world of Priorat, Spain. A region rich in history and known for crafting some of the most robust wines.
Priorat is an appellation located in Catalonia, Spain, and it is renowned for producing some of the world's most intense and bold wines. What makes Priorat stand out is its rich history, remarkable terroir, and a wine tradition that dates back centuries.
The story of Priorat's wine making roots traces back to the monks of the Carthusian Order in the 12th century. These monks recognized the unique qualities of the land and its potential for grape cultivation. Over nine centuries, Priorat evolved into a wine region of international repute, known for its dominant grape varietals, Garnacha (Grenache) and Cariñena (Carignan). The Garnacha grapes are especially important for their capacity to yield powerful and expressive wines because they come from old vines - the ones originally planted by the monks.
The vines thrive in the harsh, rocky conditions of the region with its distinct soil profile, producing grapes that offer depth and intensity. This terroir is primarily characterized by a combination of "Llicorella" and slate. Llicorella is a type of dark, schistous soil that holds onto the daytime heat and radiates it to the vines during the cool nights. This thermal contrast enhances grape maturation and contributes to the rich, complex flavors of Priorat wines.
Priorat wines are bold, full-bodied, and bursting with flavors. They often exhibit dark fruit, mineral, and spice notes, a reflection of the region's exceptional terroir. The combination of the unique soil, elevation, and the grape varieties results in a flavor profile that's truly distinctive.
Fun Fact
Priorat labels use the Catalan language and you will see the classification DOQ (Denominació d'Origen Qualificada) instead of DOCa (Denominación de Origen Calificada)
First 2020 HCC EA WSET ALUMni EVENT with charles perrin
WSET IN kenya - business daily
Hospitality Competence Center East Africa has brought the globally recognised WSET qualifications to Kenya and is the first and only WSET Approved Program Provider in East Africa. Since then over 100 students have graduated and a lively alumni organisation has been setup. Check out the full article on WSET in Kenya with an interview with Wanjiru Mureithi, the Certified Educator of Hospitality Competence Center East Africa, and coverage of the most recent alumni event in February with Charles Perrin of Famille Perrin, one of the most prestigious winemaking families in the world, hosted by De Vries Africa Ventures.
In May 2019 we held the first WSET Level 1 Course in Seychelles! The group of students was a mix of wine enthousiasts and professionals from renowned hotels and the Government in Seychelles (Eden Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons Resort, Seychelles Tourism Academy, Archipelago wines & spirit, Del Place Bar and Restaurant, Seychelles Trading Company). The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and all participants felt that they now a lot more about the basics of Wines & Grapes.
WSET Graduation with vergelegen wines ceo don tooth
press announcement WSET Global
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the world’s largest provider of wine and spirits qualifications, has confirmed new Approved Programme Providers (APPs) in Kenya, Macedonia and Slovakia. The new providers will be the first to offer WSET courses to professionals and enthusiasts in all three countries, further expanding the availability of WSET’s qualifications to over 75 countries.
First WSET level 1 Class in Kenya
