You’re so right that the approach you took to wine and food pairing is lamentably rare.
One reason is of course the requisite expenditure of time and wine.
But the main reason is a widespread belief that skilled tasters can judge a wine’s compatibility with food by tasting it “as if” it were accompanied by various dishes, by somehow combining in the imagination one’s impression of the wine and of the dish, rather than actually having to experience the requisite chemical reactions in one’s nose and mouth. This flies in the face of chemistry’s inscrutability even to the imagination of a chemist! (If thought experiments suffice, then why actually experiment ... and why did we have to have Bacon, Boyle or Priestly? ;- )
Alessandro and I graduated from the same WSET 3 class a couple of years ago! We were definitely the geekiest students (but we also had a lot of fun)... I'm so happy to see that he's going from strength to strength - it sounds like an awesome dinner :-)
You’re so right that the approach you took to wine and food pairing is lamentably rare.
One reason is of course the requisite expenditure of time and wine.
But the main reason is a widespread belief that skilled tasters can judge a wine’s compatibility with food by tasting it “as if” it were accompanied by various dishes, by somehow combining in the imagination one’s impression of the wine and of the dish, rather than actually having to experience the requisite chemical reactions in one’s nose and mouth. This flies in the face of chemistry’s inscrutability even to the imagination of a chemist! (If thought experiments suffice, then why actually experiment ... and why did we have to have Bacon, Boyle or Priestly? ;- )
100% You've perfectly captured the problem. It's just too complex to try to wing it. Which is what most people do.
Alessandro and I graduated from the same WSET 3 class a couple of years ago! We were definitely the geekiest students (but we also had a lot of fun)... I'm so happy to see that he's going from strength to strength - it sounds like an awesome dinner :-)
You should come!
I would love to but I have a friend arriving from Scotland that evening! (Plus I'm not sure either of us can afford it 😂)
Understandable. Although I will say it's amazing value for what they are actually delivering. But totally understand, it's a big chunk of cash.
Would definitely love to be there but can’t so going to try a ceviche/orange wine pairing experiment at home in honour
If possible try to find something a bit aromatic and with some structure.... good luck!
The first dinner was fantastic! Makes me want to try more "unconventional" pairings at home too!