Whether we're hosting a dinner party or ordering a bottle to go with dinner - we like to be in the know about our wines. Recently, we had the chance to brush up on our wine savvy with Crush Wine Bar's sommelier Eric Gennaro, who dished on everything from pairings to his own favourite bottle.
What are the main things to look for when tasting a wine?
The most important things to get a sense of are the sight, smell and taste. So basically the colour, aromatics, sweetness and bitterness and the acidity.
What does it mean when a wine has "legs"?
The term "legs" refers to the alcohol and glycerine content of the wine. When you swirl your wine around in the glass, the liquid falls down the side. These are the "legs" and the longer they are, the more glycerine and sugar content in the wine. But that doesn't necessarily mean the wine is better or worse.
What's the best way to go about pairing wine with food? Does the old saying "red for red meat, white for poultry and fish" still stand?
The old saying is still safe if you're looking to pair wines, but it can get as complex as you want it to. You can definitely have red wine with fish, for instance. But you should look for balance - a heavier wine with a lighter meal, or a rich and creamy dish with an acidic wine, a salty dish with a sweet wine. Another good way to go about it is to match your wine to the region of the dish you're eating. So, if you're planning on serving a dish native to the South of France, pair it with a wine from there as well.
Are there some off the beaten track wines you'd like to recommend?
I'm excited about wines from Spain - which is becoming this super hot centre of Europe in terms of wine production. I like Montsant Celler de Capcanes 2005-Mas Collet, which is made from a blend of Spanish grapes from old vintage vineyards that people are now reinvesting in.
Sommelier Eric Gennaro leads Crush Wine Bar's exciting and ambitious wine programs. Gennaro became Toronto's youngest sommelier in 1999 at the tender age of 21. He has travelled far and wide in search of the world's most paramount wines.