Yesterday the lovely Laura from 77 PR came to the Who’s Jack HQ to teach us a bit about the art of wine tasting. Normally we’d pick the cheapest bottle on the shelves without giving it a second thought so if you’re anything like us you’ll probably find the following quite enlightening.

We were treated to wines from Gallo and Turning Leaf including two types of white (Pinot Grigio/Chardonnay), two types of rosé (Shiraz/White Grenache) and a red (Cabernet Sauvignon) all of which tasted different to the other and all of which match different foods and occasions better. For example a Gallo Sauvignon Blanc goes better with smoked salmon.

Other things we learnt yesterday were…

Although red wine should be served at room temperature, when that rule was made up room temperature was actually a lot lower than it is now so just before serving red wine stick it in the fridge to let it cool slightly.

As everyone knows red wine should be allowed to breath before serving but if you forget to do this simply pour the bottle in to a jug with a wide neck and leave it in there for 10 minutes.

Despite the slightly chavy connotations screw caps have, they’re actually better than corked bottles of wine, especially if you intend to vintage the wine. If you spend a fair amount on a bottle of vino and then intend to leave it for a few years the cork can actually impair the taste of the finished product so stick to the screw cap.

You should always spend more on a fashionable wine e.g. a Pinot Grigio because when a type of wine becomes more popular the vine yards rush to mass produce it and therefore the quality of the wine can suffer. By spend that extra pound or two you’re actually paying for a higher quality of wine that has taken longer to produce.

And lastly wines can also be used as a cocktail for example…

Rosé Sangria

1. Fill half a jug with Gallo Family Vineyards White Grenache or White Zinfandel
2. Top up with soda water
3. Add strawberries, apple and orange slices or any other summer fruits that take your fancy

Match with smoked salmon and crème fraîche blinis with sweet mustard and dill sauce

 Rosé Crush

1. Add a couple of scoops of crushed ice to a martini glass
2. Pour over 2 parts Gallo Family Vineyards Rosé wine – White Grenache or White Zinfandel – and 1 part orange & raspberry juice
3. Garnish with raspberries and a sprig of mint

Serve with spicy Thai chicken skewers with sweet chilli dipping sauce.

So there you have it Jackers. To learn more about the wines we tried head to www.gallofamily.co.uk