Palate (R)Evolution – “Out of School” with Annabel Jackson

Don’t start your wine drinking life with top Bordeaux.

A beer-drinking undergrad showed up at a class because she wanted to learn how to drink wine.

Sounds like her family open some exceptional bottles and she was somewhat scorned when at one dinner she rated a German sweet wine (the name of which escaped her) as her favourite from the flight. This was somewhat unfair, as top Mosel wines can be among the most complex wines in the world, with their low-ish alcohol and extraordinary balance. So often, the residual sugar levels sounds impossibly high but is so integrated with acids that we don’t notice it.

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The Aroma Discipline – “Out of School” with Annabel Jackson

Who’s nose knows the best in this week’s column.

Blank looks. Apparent frustration. Even a resigned sigh.

The problem?

A HKU student in the back row is struggling with his nose. He cannot smell any of the aromas I am mentioning, he says. Not the minerals, not the flowers, nor even a single one of the myriad fruits I am suggesting. A conversation ensues.

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Have You Got Palate? – “Out of School” with Annabel Jackson

New weekly column looking at wine education in HK.

Why does the wine community always talk about palate, as in, “she’s got a good palate” – when we only taste with our tongue?

It is a fair question, particularly coming from a dentistry student from Hong Kong University who surely knows a thing or two about the palate! He was attending a class put on by the university’s department of personal development, and subtitled, “Wine as a Life Skill.” It certainly is that, these days.

Because wine is not only about taste, I offer, it is also about sensation.

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Commentary: Is McLaren Vale the Next Barossa Valley?

Dean Aslin looks at disruption in the Australian wine scene.

When it comes to new world Shiraz few have the reputation that Australia’s Barossa Valley does but recently its southern neighbour has been grabbing the attention and deservedly so.

McLaren Vale lies to the South East of South Australia’s capital city, Adelaide, and it is a much cooler climate than the Barossa with sea breezes on most afternoons. Whilst there has never been any doubt about the high standard of wines coming from the region it is now getting a lot of attention because of the awards and accolades it is receiving for their exceptional Shiraz.

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Flagship Wine: Ambassador or Juggernaut?

We look into the flagship wines of the world’s leading wine countries.

What’s the wine or grape that first springs to mind when someone mentions France, Spain, Argentina or New Zealand? Bordeaux, Tempranillo, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc? These are considered the “flagship wines” of those specific countries – their ambassadors as such. But do they really bring value to their motherland’s wine industry, or do they shine so bright that they stultify it?

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Debra Meiburg: Master of Wine, Author and Hong Kong Wine Mythbuster

A look inside Debra’s new book on the HK wine market.

Debra Meiburg, arguably Hong Kong’s most famous Master of Wine; with wine classes, TV shows, YouTube channels, wine competition judging – she can now add “book author” to her amazing list of acheivements!

We posted about Debra Meiburg’s Guide to the Hong Kong Wine Trade here before, and we attended the launch event at the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair last month where the book was finally available for ordering.

We are currently reviewing our copy and will bring you a full review soon – but her presentation at the HKIWSF peaked every attendee’s interest so much that there was an overwhelming stampede to get a copy (or 2) of the book.

So we asked Ms. Meiburg, if we could post the slides here so that we can show off more about the contents of the book – and she agreed. So below you will see some of the top line information that is presented in her book – myths about the Hong Kong wine industry:

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