North Idaho Enological Society Past Events
NIES February 2020 Tasting - Big Blind Burgundian Blowout
The February program was all about wines made from the Burgundian grapes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Our presenter was Lisa Tussing, a Level II Sommelier that works for Vehrs Distributing. Lisa is a bundle of energy and a dynamic speaker. She has worked a couple of summers at nearby, upscale Gozzer Ranch and, also, has some serious credentials having worked at a number of 5-star resorts in Arizona and Southern California.
Lisa led the group in a fun program comparing the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines being poured that were from different regions and in different styles. The wines were tasted in pairs with their identities concealed. Lisa then guided us in how a sommelier evaluates a wine to surmise its identity – the key is to take in the aroma and taste looking for two (2) fruits that are representative of what you are drinking and one (1) aroma as a key descriptor. These aid in the ability to hone in on the wine varietal and area.
Along the way, Lisa entertained the group with stories of her sommelier training and certification process. To educate and train her palate, she would take a week and drink wines of just one varietal from many regions to train her memory to distinguish the aromatics and flavors in the wine and the combinations that make up the wine’s profile.
It has been noted that after 2005, Pinot Noir has become a mainstay of the California and Oregon wine industry. The movie Sideways featured the wine-obsessed Miles character that revered a good Pinot Noir and in a very memorable line stated his disdain for Merlot. Thereafter, Pinot Noir wine sales increased significantly in the U.S., due to what has been acknowledged as the “Sideways Effect,” which is generally credited with depressing the market for Merlot wine. Lisa said don’t let that deter you from enjoying Merlot.
This was a great opportunity to expand your wine knowledge!
Lisa led the group in a fun program comparing the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines being poured that were from different regions and in different styles. The wines were tasted in pairs with their identities concealed. Lisa then guided us in how a sommelier evaluates a wine to surmise its identity – the key is to take in the aroma and taste looking for two (2) fruits that are representative of what you are drinking and one (1) aroma as a key descriptor. These aid in the ability to hone in on the wine varietal and area.
Along the way, Lisa entertained the group with stories of her sommelier training and certification process. To educate and train her palate, she would take a week and drink wines of just one varietal from many regions to train her memory to distinguish the aromatics and flavors in the wine and the combinations that make up the wine’s profile.
It has been noted that after 2005, Pinot Noir has become a mainstay of the California and Oregon wine industry. The movie Sideways featured the wine-obsessed Miles character that revered a good Pinot Noir and in a very memorable line stated his disdain for Merlot. Thereafter, Pinot Noir wine sales increased significantly in the U.S., due to what has been acknowledged as the “Sideways Effect,” which is generally credited with depressing the market for Merlot wine. Lisa said don’t let that deter you from enjoying Merlot.
This was a great opportunity to expand your wine knowledge!
