Winter Wine Rodeo: Review

The second annual Winter Wine Rodeo was held on Saturday, Nov. 19 in conjunction with the fairgrounds and by all accounts was a great success. Nearly 400 folks attended and had the chance to sample more than 70 different wines, and food from great local restaurants, and also do some holiday shopping. The event in its second year evolved to include an expanded venue and more wines and vendors.

The evening took on a slightly different twist too as the wine focus shifted to include fewer sweet wine selections that the attendees really responded to. The biggest sellers and we assume most popular varietal seemed to be Pinot Noir, followed closely by several red blends that while still value priced seemed to indicate that folks were seeking out more mainstream wines to buy that night.

The addition of the VIP event "Behind the Chutes" a limited attendance tasting of three wines combined with a panel discussion and education segment on how to taste wine was hugely popular and an addition that will be kept on the schedule in coming years. While talking about the process of tasting wine seems straight forward, as a panel Eric Cook, Scott Conant and I really worked to illuminate some of the nuance involved in assessing wines and improving a consumer's overall enjoyment of the huge selection of wines available here in North Idaho.

Eric Cook the sommelier at Beverly's at The Coeur d'Alene Resort provided some of the most insightful instruction on not only how to make the most of tasting wine to find your favorites but also providing the basis for distinguishing between an everyday glass of wine with dinner and the exercise of evaluating wine for potential repeat purchase.

Again this may seem obvious to all of us as wine consumers but some of his pointers I found to be quite valuable. First of all distinguishing between having a glass of wine at night with dinner is and should be a much different event than an actual tasting. One need not take notes and work to identify aromatic and flavor profiles each time we have a glass of wine. There is simple "hedonistic pleasure" in just enjoying wine with our meal.

When it comes to evaluating wine through a couple of key pointers from Eric seemed to resonate with me as well as many in the audience. First, taste wine with a group of friends or family members, you will be surprised at how others in your tasting group will aid in your own appreciation of the wine you are sampling but also in helping you identify aromas, flavors and textures of the wine. This is vital for consumers as once you can identify these characteristics that you like you are then able to help your server, sommelier or wine shop owner find selections that will consistently meet your expectations.

Eric's other pointer was to keep notes and even the simplest rating system for wines you are tasting. This written record will be valuable when you look back over your notes and revisit producers, varietals and vintages to buy wines you thoroughly enjoy. Finally Eric pointed out just how easy it is to get the exposure to many different wines to sample, whether by attending an event like the Wine Rodeo, or the many wine tastings held right here in our North Idaho community there are ample chances to try many different wines.

Scott Conant provided a different but no less important perspective. As a distributor his job is to sell wine to folks like Eric and I who deal regularly with consumers. Scott who has been in the business for a long time has seen many wines and wine styles come and go. His historical knowledge is extensive, contributing to his ability to know what both professional buyers and consumers are likely to buy. His most valuable advice though was to not always trust your first sip of wine, that many times subsequent sips will reveal more flavors and aromas as the wine changes.

The one thing all of the panelists agreed on is the simple pleasure of allowing a wine to evolve on its own without the introduction of excess oxygen from an aerator. The subtle changes that happen to wine as you proceed through a meal or a tasting can be incredibly rewarding and one of the best exercises for us as both wine professionals and everyday wine consumers.

We all look forward to another great event next year, and while we wait for that tasting to come around again we hope as consumers you all have the opportunity to enjoy expanding your list of wines you like through tastings with friends.

If there is a topic you would like to read about or questions on wine you can email George@thedinnerpartyshop.com or make suggestions by contacting the Healthy Community section at the Coeur d'Alene Press.

George Balling is co-owner with his wife Mary Lancaster of the dinner party - a wine and table top decor shop in Coeur d'Alene by Costco. George is also the managing judge of The North Idaho Wine Rodeo and writes frequently for the online version of Coeur d'Alene Magazine at www.cdamagazine.com. His articles can also be found on the blog at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com.