As a wine enthusiast I'm always keen to see people getting stuck into wine with confidence and enjoyment. And I think it's a shame that many people feel intimidated by wine lists in bars and restaurants. However, in the last couple of years I have noticed a distinct shift in ordering habits as more people have gained the confidence to choose what they like. Nowadays you are more likely to hear someone boldly ask for a glass of merlot or shiraz - rather than simply a glass of red.
This is good news all round but would not be possible without the promotion and success of single varietal wines. I'm a huge fan of single varietals - wines made from just one type of grape. I think it's the key to understanding and appreciating wines, and it's the only way to get to know the different characteristics. It's how you discover for example that sauvignon blanc is a zesty citrus white, or shiraz is a full-bodied spicy red.
Ultimately the way a wines tastes is determined by a number of factors like the local climate, the wine making process, and the amount of time it has spent in barrels or bottles. But the type of grape should be the defining characteristic and only single varietals allow you to experience the true expression of the grape.
The other great aspect of single varietals is that they normally come from where that particular grape grows best - where the climate, soil and rainfall match the needs of the grape. People have been making wine for thousands of years and it's no coincidence that specific grape varieties have come to dominate certain regions - it's because they work well together.
The natural style of particular grapes does vary as you move from country to country, but this just adds to the pleasure of getting to know what you like and where you like it to come from.
So I'm looking forward to more people grabbing the wine list off me and seeking out something they know and like.
