The Destination Wine wine tasting video series is a journey through the wine world, one glass at a time. If you think about it, each bottle of wine is a destination in itself–a wine country destination. Since the world’s fine wines tell the story of some of the world’s most beautiful, historic and exciting places–the people, agriculture, traditions, food, and of course the soil–I decided to work with my partner Delta Air Lines to create this series. The first of these videos feature wine selections on board Delta in the Business Elite® cabin, for which I am privileged to select the wines, and to train the thousands of flight attendants who serve them. Over time, I will add videos featuring other wine country destinations that we’ve highlighted on board in the past, as well as some exciting ones that are coming in the future. I’d love your feedback on the wines, the videos and the destinations, and those you’d like to see in the future. Grab your passport and let’s see if we can make it “around the world in eighty wines” (give or take :)).
Destination Wine: A world tour of wine country, one glass at a time.
Destination Wine: Jacquart Brut Mosaic, Champagne, France
I was excited when Delta won the Global Traveler magazine award for best on board Champagne with this wine. I was even more excited when I had the chance to visit the winery in Champagne and meet the winemaker, Florian Eznack. The Jacquart Champagnes are really coming on strong here in the United States, so check them out! And if you get a chance to visit Champagne (only 40 minutes by TGV train direct from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport), it’s a beautiful region. Be sure to make an appointment to visit Jacquart.
Destination Wine: Maison Roux Burgundy, France
Visiting the Burgundy wine region in France is a right of passage and of passion for lovers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It is the historic home region for these two grapes, and a cradle of classic French winemaking. In this video I taste two Delta French red Burgundy picks with fifth-generation vintner Sebastien Roux in the family cellars nestled beneath the picturesque Burgundy village of Saint-Aubin.
Destination Wine: Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto, Italy
Visit Tuscany and Piedmont with me in this most delicious five-minute video fantasy that will have you booking your Italian vacation faster than you can say “Ciao!” In some ways Banfi’s proprietress Cristina Mariani-May and I have grown up together in the wine business, so it was great fun to taste and talk with her about this unique wine and its perfect partner–chocolate. Sommeliers love to debate which is the best wine match for chocolate but I say it’s no contest. This is it.
Destination Wine: Scarpetta Pinot Grigio, Friuli, Italy
Pinot Grigio is one of the top-selling white wine types in the U.S., for a reason: it is crisp, refreshing, and nearly always value-priced. Having said that, I’ve found that most Pinot Grigios are too light-bodied to show well in-flight, so for years I was looking for a PG with punch to showcase on Delta. I found it in Scarpetta, the co-venture of my fellow Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey and Chef Lachlan MacKinnon–the minds behind the great restaurant Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, CO. In this video Bobby brings to life the wine and the like-no-other culinary culture of Friuli.
Destination Wine: Simi Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California
Tasting Simi Chardonnay with winemaker Susan Lueker during harvest was like being a little part of California wine history in the making. The winery is one of California’s benchmarks–historic, and yet an innovator. Susan’s predecessor winemaker, the legendary Zelma Long, was one of the first California winemakers to barrel-ferment Chardonnay and create this style of wine that we know and love. Susan has carried the torch forward with skill and grace, and I’m happy to say I did my sommelier service in suggesting the perfect food partner for this wine. Watch the video to learn what it is–do you agree?