"Wouldnt you just prefer a four quid bottle of Blossom Hill? No? Lambrini? Its cherry-flavoured!" Its understandable that people approach wine-tasting as a sort of hobby. Wines have a wide variety of tastes and textures, each to a different palate, that many enjoy and savour. Equally, however, it should be noted that it is a refined and relatively uncommon past-time, and the majority of bartenders students, often do not partake for fairly obvious reasons; neither able to spare the expense nor see the value in spending free time spitting into a bucket. Furthermore, bartenders are pretty unanimous in the deficiencies of the training process: (not necessarily the manager's fault, but) our employers rarely spend the time or resources in providing adequate training to equip us with the required knowledge. As a result, wine tastes, densities, textures theyre completely lost and foreign to many bartenders. Therefore, when faced with wine list quizzes, bartenders can answer as follows: Customer..."Hello there. I was looking at your wines and was wondering if you could let me taste something quite soft and fruity, with a touch of spice, but not too firm on the body?"The customer-service-friendly bartender, loyal to the all-domineering corporate machine..."Well, Madame, it sounds like youre looking for a red Shiraz. Whites typically range from the fruity and crispy Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio, or the sweeter and lighter Reisling. It doesnt sound like you would like the Merlot or the Cabernet, which are generally smooth-to-medium of body, with a fruity taste. The Shiraz you are looking will give you the spicy taste you seek." Stick to these general descriptions and youll do fine with wine!
