drinking partners

Last week I took part in a video wine and cheese tasting. Aside from me looking like a geek, it was a fun way to spend a Wednesday night. The session was organized by Natalie MacLean and included a group of tasters from throughout the province. I sat in with Bethany, from Second Ferment and Nita, from Tip My Tumbler and we worked our way through a HUGE plate of Canadian cheeses and a few wines. The week before we were doing pretty much the same thing on Twitter (#CdnCheese is the tag if you want to view the feed).

All of this cyber-tasting has me thinking. Everyone drinks wine for different reasons. It may just be the occasional glass as a social lubricant, or it may be a habit. Some of us approach it academically, and for some of us wine is a permanent fixture on the dinner table. For me wine is all of those things, but since I have embraced writing a blog, it has also become a way to connect with others. I still prefer to clink glasses and look you in the eye if I'm going to be imbibing with you, but there's no denying that the internet has opened up a world of possibilities for learning. Gauging your palate next to others' is an integral part of learning how to taste wine and doing that with a group of seasoned wine tasters isn't always an available option. It may not be your favourite drinking partner, but the internet is here to help.

Check out the link for the video and the wines we tasted, pour a glass of your own, and belly up to the screen.

http://www.nataliemaclean.com/blog/video-wine-and-cheese-tasting-july-25-live-on-google/

Oh, and I learned a few things last week. Jackson-Triggs Meritage and Avonlea cheddar, not necessarily at the same time, but both very good.