So, we’re closing in on IFBC. Tons of great food, advice and knowledge will be shared throughout the conference. This is my first IFBC, but I’ve been to the Wine Bloggers Conference that Zephyr puts on the last three years (Portland, Penticton & Santa Barbara). I know that the fine folks at Foodista and Zephyr are going to do their best to make sure those of us attending the conference are going to have one hell of a good time!
While perusing the agenda for IFBC, I noticed that Wines of Bordeaux will be there. I am really looking forward to the session they’re putting on, but I wanted to share some advice, from a wine bloggers perspective, on how to make the most of this session. This advice also pertains to any other wine tastings that may happen during the conference.
1. Spit. Yes. Spit that delicious elixir. I know it’s hard, especially when the wines are fantastic, but you don’t want to make your “blogger brand” look bad.
2. Do break the food and wine pairing rules. Seriously. My favorite food and wine pairings are as follows:
- Grilled steak and Riesling
- Kit Kat bar and Robert Mondavi Chardonnay
- Rosé and ANYTHING. And I’m *not* talking about White Zinfandel, either.
3. Don’t say how you’re “allergic to sulfites” when presented with a red wine, but make a beeline for a white wine. Whites actually have more sulfites in them than reds. Also, stay away from the dried fruits, as dried fruits have more sulfites than both red & whites. These two articles: Sulfites in Wine: The Myths, the Facts and the Truth and The Bottom Line on Sulfites in Wine are great starting points on educating yourself on why you may get up with a bit of a headache after drinking wine and the use of sulfites in the winemaking process.
4. Do ask questions!! There are no stupid questions when it comes to wine. If you don’t know how the aromas are integrated into the wine, then ASK!
5. Don’t be intimated by tasting notes that talk about the flavors found in the wine. If you get something else, then say so! Everyone’s palate is different and for someone like me, I may take it as a challenge to see if I, too, can pick up on that note that you’re getting.
6. Do take pictures of the labels! This way, you can remember the fantastic wines you had and you can do what you can to acquire them when you get home!
The most important thing, though, is to have FUN!
[…] here for general tips from The Curried Nut and Inspiration Kitchen; wine aficionados, check out One Girl One Glass One World). I’m also ordering business cards to exchange with other bloggers and setting reminders in […]
Great advice — thanks! Do you have a favorite app for photographing and collecting / organizing your images of wine labels?
I am a huge fan Delectable. It’s very simple and integrates into multiple social media platforms with ease!
Spot on! Especially #3,4&5. I can’t tell you how many sulfite discussions I get into these days! I hope you have a marvelous time!
Cheers!
Alison
http://Www.bonvivantdc.com