Tasting in the Dark

Blind Tasting of Prosecco with Dr. Hoby Wedler, NY Wine Classic, and more

                                            image courtesy of Colangelo & Partners

Anyone stumbling into The Leopard at des Artistes restaurant in Manhattan on a recent June day may have wondered if a wine cult was engaging in a bizarre ritual. Sitting side-by-side with our eyes covered in black blindfolds, our hands clumsily grasping for glasses filled with Prosecco, there’s no denying we were an unusual sight to behold.

                                           image courtesy of Colangelo & Partners

The immersive and creative Tasting in The Dark: A Sensory Journey was led by Dr. Hoby Wedler in conjunction with National Prosecco Week (June 24 -30). Dr. Wedler has been blind since birth and shared that his parents had two choices: raise him with low expectations or hold him to the same high standards as his sighted brother. They opted for the latter option and from learning to “paint with flavor” when he mastered preparing stews for his family’s meals to earning his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, being blind has not stopped Dr. Wedler from living life with gusto.

               I was seated next to sommelier and wine educator Martha Cisneros. 

                                          image courtesy of Colangelo & Partners

”I’ve never tasted wine in the light and enjoyed it too much in the dark,” Wedler chuckled. An avid wine lover, although he cannot see what is in the glass, Wedler has a fine-tuned sense of smell and taste, the most important senses when it comes to enjoying and analyzing wine. During our tasting, Wedler also guided us to hone in on the sounds of the bubbles and the texture of the wine on our palates. Three of my favorite wines were the La Gioiosa Prosecco Brut DOC Treviso, Brilla! Extra Dry Rosé Prosecco 2023 DOC, and Mionetto Prosecco Brut DOC.

Although we were blindfolded, tasting with Wedler was one of the most illuminating wine experiences I’ve ever participated in. The seven wines we tasted revealed that in addition to being refreshing, festive, and delicious, Prosecco, which is made from the Glera grape, can be a multi-faceted wine where flavor and texture are in harmony. But most importantly, our tasting in the dark with Wedler reaffirmed wine’s capacity to bring people together and his belief that “so much of life is outlook.” You can choose to live with a glass half-full or one that is full and vibrant.

Summertime Drink Pairings

                                                  image courtesy of Dave Eckert

My friend Dave Eckert, a Kansas City based wine & food writer and local tv star, recently asked me to suggest some wines to pair with barbecue for his article, Summertime Drink Pairings, in Kansas City Homes & Style. Click here to read my suggestions, along with picks from Dave and Randy Piebes of Q39 restaurants.

New York Wine Classic

As a native New Yorker, I am beyond excited to host the 2024 awards ceremony on July 17th for the New York Wine Classic. The New York Wine Classic Awards Ceremony will reveal and celebrate the prestigious “Governor’s Cup” (Best Wine), “Winery of the Year” (Best Overall Showing by a Winery), and “Best in Category” winners. Click here for more information and to register for the virtual ceremony.

Wines of Sicily

Sicily is one of my favorite wine regions and I’ve been invited by the prestigious Astor Center in Manhattan to teach the Wines of Sicily class. The event will include a welcome wine, six tasting pours of wines, a mix-&-match tasting plate, and a 20% discount on all wines tasted to use in-store after class. Click here for more details.

Food & Wine Classic in Charleston

I’m looking forward to leading the Rosé Gets a Glow Up: Luxury Pink Wines seminar at the debut of the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston (September 27-29). Tickets are on sale now.

cheers,

Wanda