There is a sense on romance attached with wine that engulfs anyone who enjoys it. From the planting of the grape vines until that very first sip of the end product, wine is one of the most exciting drinks in the world. The variety and subtle tastes of each harvest add to the charm of drinking wine as every year is different, packed with beautiful notes and flavours unlike before.
Drinking wine is a cultured procedure of its own. The manner of storing a bottle, pouring it correctly, the glass used, the swirl before the sip, and then indulging the senses, it is a truly magical experience. An interesting aspect of wine is that it pairs beautifully with other foods. Cheese, meats, curry, you name it, and there is a lovely red, rose, or a white to go along with it.
Whether a novice or a professional enthusiast, there are a few points to keep in mind before experimenting with wine. The process of drinking wine aside, among the many food mistakes people make is overindulging in wine or drinking it too fast. Wine is savoured slowly with ample time to freshen the palate between different bottles. Moreover, wine pairing it is an art, and its always better to read the label or check with an in-house sommelier at a restaurant before picking one. Lastly, the beauty of wine is in its diversity, and every wine aficionado should make it a point to explore wines from different regions around the world to understand its often understated sophistication better.
Switzerland
Food is an integral part of Switzerland’s lifestyle, and yet many travellers come back from the country unaware of its spectacular wine heritage. The Vaud region alongside Lake Geneva is one of the most prominent and lesser-known wine producing parts in the world. While there are secret Swiss gems to be discovered in the rest of the country, you will find the UNESCO World Heritage site of the terraced vineyards here. The wine associations in the region date back to more than a hundred years and are still operated independently by small producers. The production is limited, and there is quite a bit of local consumption thus making the wines from villages like Corseaux exclusive and a delight to taste.
India
Wine production in India has been growing steadily over the last few decades. It is still relatively new with few and far between recognition throughout the globe for its robust nature: Nashik, Sangli, and Bangalore and the top wine producing areas in the country where most of the wineries are situated. Owing to the terroir of India, the wines have a distinct flavour to them. However, achieving dominance in the local liquor market has been a challenge for many wineries because of prices, advertisements, and an overall lack of wine knowledge among the consumers.
Greece
Greece has been producing wine for more than 6000 years. Its idyllic location by the Mediterranean Sea and a vibrant culture revolving around local food makes it a premier wine destination. However, for an exceptional wine adventure, Santorini is known for a unique bottle of wine that is stored and aged underwater for five years. An experiment that gives it an unmatched appeal, and also shows the world that every bottle of wine is full of surprise waiting to be discovered.