Four Seasons has always been known for its extensive wine lists and its sumptuous meat and cheese platters, yet a new idea has now been put forward by the owners – wine tasting training sessions.
Many people in Malta enjoy their wines, but how many do actually know what goes into the skill of discerning between a good and mediocre wine on basis of colour, smell and taste?
In an effort to better educate people in this art, Four Seasons owners drafted-in the services of wine connoisseur Hubert Muscat to explain the subtle differences in reds and whites to a crowd of about 50 people last Wednesday.
Mr Muscat first explained the differences in wines and what to look for when on a wine tasting spree, whether for fun or whether it is part of a dedicated day out.
He explained that 11am is the optimal time for such activities in a place that has an abundance of natural light. A narrow rimmed glass is also essential for capturing smells, but the most important things are to abstain from strong-tasting foods prior to going to a session and not to wear strong perfumes.
Many of those present were surprised to learn that most of the techniques they used to taste a wine were wrong. Wine lovers learned that one must always judge the colour from the side of the glass and depth of a wine by looking through the top of the glass.
They also learned that saliva levels in the mouth after tasting the wine could be an indicator of it being acidic, while cloudiness could be an indicator of bacterial infection.
Participants were given questionnaires, for their own information, to fill out about the taste, colour, smell and other characteristics of the wines. These included a New Zealand Sav Matua Valley Sauvignon Blanc, a Bodegas Trivento Malbec Reserve from Argentina and a Penfolds Bin Number 2 Chiraz, Mourvedre Australia.
A little bit of history was also given here, with Mr Muscat explaining that although the Malbec is a French variety, the largest vineyards in the world for that particular variety are now in Argentina.
The wine bar has always been a haunt for wine lovers and it boasts a huge cellar offering various reds, whites and rose’s from around the world at reasonable prices.
If one might be a bit apprehensive about attending such sessions, Four Seasons is also known for its warm welcome and friendly atmosphere. The crowd is of varied ages, welcoming and there is always some interesting point up for discussion. When the wine is flowing, one can also opt for a delightful platter of meats and cheeses which are fresh, varied and of good quality at a reasonable price. More wine-tasting sessions are planned in the future and details will be announced following the success of the first event.