In the Drink
Eric Asimov
Eric Asimov demystifies wine on a special and informative episode of In the Drink with host Joe Campanale. Eric is a food writer who started the $25 and under section of the New York Times and was given the new position of Chief Wine Critic of The New York Times in 2004. Asimov has also done freelance work for other publications, including Food & Wine Magazine, Details, Martha Stewart Living and Sommelier Journal. His latest book is called How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto. and Tune in for a lively conversation on subjects like the democratization of high end wine via the internet, the usefulness of blind tastings and the importance of beverage programs in restaurants. This program was sponsored by Bonnie Plants.
"What's missing in the hyper rational approach to wine is developing an emotional connection which is at the root of enjoyment." [04:00]
"Great sommeliers are also great psychologists - they can read [people's] emotions." [08:00]
"Good wine is always changing and evolving. Talking about wine has a lot to do with context - the food, the people you're with, the season, your own mood. When you talk about a blind tasting - the context is the other 49 wines, which is unnatural and you're ignoring a lot of cultural information that can inform you about a particular wine. Good wines are cultural expressions they aren't just isolated flavors and aromas in a glass - they convey where the grapes were grown, the heritage, the people, the history - all of this is important to convey in a wine." [16:00]
--Eric Asimov on In the Drink