plooptionary

Think romance. Think drink. I guarantee the first thought in your head was Champagne. There’s no doubt that popping the cork (or releasing it gently, like an angel’s kiss, as you are supposed to) on a bottle of bubbly is evocative and sensual.

(By the way - always twist the bottle (not the cork) when opening Champagne and make sure it is very cold as this will stop it overflowing.  Actually, this reminds me of a great trick from an old wine lecturer of mine; he used to work in a a very expensive bar in the stock broking area of London - when the hig rollers came, in he’d offer a bet to big groups of men, “I’ll bet you 100 bucks/pounds that I can open this bottle of Champagne without it overflowing, no matter how much you guys shakes the bottle”.  The guys would take up the wager and shake the Champagne as hard as they could, then my old lecturer would delicately open the bottle and it would let out a gentle sigh and the cork would not go flying up to the ceiling.  Of course he’d actually put the Champagne bottle in the freezer for 30 minutes beforehand and, as it was cold (not frozen), it was never going to explode.  He’d win the money every time. 

I’ve also been taught recently how to open a bottle of wine with just a wine glass (ie: no corkscrew) - it’s quite sensational and you end up with an opened bottle of wine that’s drinkable … but sometimes you do break the wine glass!  I’ll explain here one day (or post a video) if there are enough requests!

Where was I?  Oh yes, romantic wines. 

There is a mutual agreement that, by opening a bottle of Champagne (please don’t call it Champers or worse shampoo!), you are celebrating and if it’s partnered with strawberries and a pleasing setting there’s nothing more romantic. But why the knee-jerk reaction for Champagne when you want to pile on the romance? There are plenty of other wines that are seductive – honest!

Merlot
Pure velvet in a glass – Merlot can be very sexy! This is a wine that has texture and flavour in equal measure – it’s very smooth and seductive with layers of rich, ripe plummy fruits. It can be complex if you and your partner like discussing the wine but the overriding memory of Merlot is it’s silky, fruity lusciousness.

Dessert wines
Don’t overlook sweet wines if love is in the air. Sauternes, Monbazillac and Tokaji are fabulously sweet, unctuous wines. Almost syrupy in texture they ooze aromas of candied peel and tropical fruits – great with most desserts or poured over peaches or strawberries for a sensual and decadent treat.

Classic Clarets
The romance in clarets is as much in the love that goes into the wine as the taste. You are drinking the history of Bordeaux with every sip – the love of a winemaker who treats every vintage as a child – passion in a bottle! With intense blackcurrant flavours many clarets are made to be enjoyed young or, if it’s made to last, at least 20 years old or more! A night with a fine claret will be a night you’ll remember – especially if it’s vintage is the year you got married.

Crisp refreshing Sauvignon Blanc
With grassy, gooseberry aromas Sauvignon evokes all that is exciting about a summer day. It’s clean, pure white fruit flavours and zesty tang make it an exciting wine – light, frivolous and fun and great with oysters!

Romance differs for all of us. For some it’s a walk in a thunderstorm and others it’s a night in front of a log fire. Well, wines are no different. Imagine eating seafood looking out over the Brittany coast in Northern France, it’s an ideal situation to open a crisp bottle of Muscadet Sur Lie and what could be more romantic than drinking it with your partner as the sun goes down. Or put yourself in the South of France – sipping Rosé in a pavement café in Provence; candle light, the warm air, condensation on the glass……

At the very least try and remember what wine you’re drinking when you’re in a romantic setting – that way you can recreate the romance when you return home by opening that ‘special bottle’

Of course you could well have your own romantic drink … leave a comment as it would be great for ploop to know!

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