38 SAVOUR MANITOBA | SPRING 24
Wine Pairing
A 2022 YouTube video by Jancis Robinson, who
was a guest on BBC Maestro, explains that she is
uneasy with suggesting perfect pairings. No doubt
even seasoned sommeliers would be uneasy
recommending anything to this master of wine
with more than 40 years of wine knowledge.
That said, Robinson has down-to-earth
advice for wine pairing that would fit well with the
Manitoba mindset.
She explained that in homes, at house
parties or at restaurants with smaller cellars,
you're unlikely to find the perfect wine pairing
choices. For these settings, where the likelihood
of a perfect or even good match is slim, she
recommends to "just have a glass of water in
between mouthfuls or a munch of something
neutral like bread."
When you cannot control the uncontrollable,
these options beat having a bad taste in your mouth.
Most of us ask wine experts at stores for advice,
and these suggestions get us as close to perfect as
possible. Often, as Robinson suggests, things are
out of your control. So, in these cases, her palate-
cleansing tips are nice to have in your back pocket.
WHAT IF "PERFECT" ISN'T ON THE TABLE?
E X P E R T A D V I C E
You can't always
control the
uncontrollable.