I am regularly asked which wine I like to drink. Well, that of course depends a lot on the moment. I don't like to drink the same wine with a delicious lunch salad as I would with a hearty ribeye one evening. Of course I have within the possibilities of rosé, white and red wine, my preference depending on the occasion.
In addition to wines that can be combined well with different dishes, there are of course many beautiful wines that you can also enjoy 'as is'. Think of lighter wines that are fresh and that you can drink well. Often you choose a wine that you already know. That's pretty safe. But there are also all kinds of opportunities to discover new flavors and varieties.
Of course it can happen that a wine is disappointing and/or does not suit your personal preference. Try not to see this as a bad buy, but consider it a learning opportunity. After all, you know which wine you will not choose next time.
In addition to color and type, you often focus on price. That makes sense, because not everyone buys a bottle of white wine for 37 euros with a drink. But I would still like to challenge you to look beyond the 'cheapest' wine.
If you are willing to pay a little more for a bottle or glass of wine, you can expect more wine. Take, for example, an extra open wine of € 6 per glass in a restaurant. Many find such a wine expensive.
How can you say that if you haven't tasted this one yet? These types of wines are often different and made with more love, care and attention. They also have a different purchase price. Most catering entrepreneurs now offer these types of wines with a fixed storage, instead of with a higher margin percentage. And because of that, you get the chance to taste and drink something special for a relatively excellent price. And every now and then you will even find a special wine/food combination. Sometimes you run into luck…What beautiful wine, good food and good hospitality can do to you.
Sanne Schilstra
Sales Manager Dikers wine trade Groningen
Sanne has been a sommelier for many years in the top catering industry in the north of the Netherlands, is a catering expert and has an immeasurable passion for wine and hospitality. Sanne will write a monthly column for Horeca Groningen.