I tell my fellow wine drinkers that the best way to avoid a headache or becoming 'tipsy' after a wine-tasting is to actually drink a wee bit more, more often. I don't mean bottles, just a glass. I mean tasting glasses, those small things we use! (Actually I noticed last night that they do make a difference!) I was 'nosing' my vinho tinto numero dois and immediately picked up the most delicious mocca chocolate. My tasting buddy didn't, click - he was using a big glass, we 'nosed' each others and viola - my nose was indeed more concentrated and rich!
So a small glass of wine an evening or every few days will actually help your body to adjust to the occasional 'extra' load. This also has health benefits! The judge is still out there, but a book 'The Wine Diet' by Roger Corder is worth the read! It's based on his 25 years of research. The latest comes from Iceland - and no it's not Volcanic Ash!! As a part of The Reykjavik Eye Study it was found that drinking red wine may help prevent cataracts. According to the report, large doses of resveratrol, an ingredient found in red wine, delayed or prevented many ailments associated with aging in mice who began taking it at mid-life.
I set off for my tasting at 19h35, traffic being a problem on a Friday, well everyday actually. I also didn't want to arrive too early, night life starts late in this country! Tasting started at 21h00 by 22h10 when Frank arrived home from work - we were only 'ripping' apart the second glass of wine! By 0h00 we were actually finished. I had decided to stay for dinner so that I could line my stomach with food before heading home - and because that's what my wine buddies do!
Dinner was delicious! Salad with figs, greens, shavings of parmesan, aubergines ...... for mains I chose the Bom-Bom - it's actually a steak!! Served with a creamy risotto! (Guess where that is sitting this morning! It's going to take weeks to shed!) And dessert .... cream of mascarpone with strawberries, sprinkled with meringue, nuts, chocolate sauce ...... followed by a xicara of strong Brazilian coffee com leite - it's growing on me in a big way!
By now it's 02h15.
The best part, I felt on top of the world! I could have danced all night and still come back for more!
So although I did not see the sun rise, that will still take a bit more training, like a wee bit more wine a wee bit more practice is partying till late, or is it early? Sooner rather than later I may not even need a few hours sleep between one day and the next!
Jonny - thanks for being a fantastic host! To your team at Sao Praca Lorencao, pronounced Prasa Lorensao (sorry, I have a Swedish keyboard!) To my fellow wine tasters, it was great to see you all again, to the special guests, thanks for enriching our experience!
So perhaps I am going to manage and become 'Brazilian' afterall - with a little help from my friends!
PS Vinho nemero dois was actually a Vin nombre deux - yes! Jonny threw in a Bordeaux! Wonderful on the noise and a bit flat on the palate unlike the Brazilian reds which are fruit bombs on the nose and palate! I loved them all! Alright, they were 'fine' wines!
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