Wine Century Club

Last Saturday, my wife and I were inducted into the Wine Century Club at one of their tastings. To join as a member, one must at least have tasted at least one hundred different wine grapes, whether as varietals or in a blend. However, it is not as easy as it sound. Many grapes have local synonyms, so that for example, the nearly ubiquitous Trebbiano of Italy is actually known as St Emilion in Cognac (to be distilled into the famous brandy), but Ugni Blanc in the rest of France. Trebbiano also illustrated another problem: many grapes are known by the same name - the one I mentioned goes by the prime name of Trebbiano Toscana.

I went one better - I got doppel membership, which means that I crossed the threshold into the over 200 category! In fact when I complies my wife's application, I found that she was very near to the doppel mark. I am sure she will get her doppel membership next time.

But seriously, wine is about having fun as much as anything else. Sticking to the top brands in Bordeaux might ensure maximum enjoyment if money is no problem, but who knows what delights can await the adventurous, who find time to taste the unusual.