In yesterday’s blog, we began a completely non-scientific examination of the relationship between music and wine enjoyment.
We suggested that just as there are wine and food pairings that could be considered simpatico, so are there wine and music pairings that just seem to… sing. I’ve always felt that a good meal is made even better with the right music in the background (or the foreground).
Yesterday, we shared the descriptions of three popular red wine varieties from the Vinesse website, along with my music genre choices (and a few specific artists) for each.
Today, let’s talk music and white wine…
- Sauvignon Blanc — “Notable ‘grassy’ aroma, often with notes of apple and citrus fruits. High acidity. Can amaze as a late harvest wine, with rich and complex flavors.”
I am a simple man, and when I hear the word “grassy,” the first music genre that comes to mind is bluegrass. More than most white varieties, Sauvignon Blanc is an expression of the place where it’s grown, and I’ve always embraced bluegrass as “music of a place.” I know it’s not for everyone, but when you listen to artists such as Bela Fleck, Yonder Mountain String Band or Druha Trava (from what would seem to be a most unusual “place” for bluegrass, the Czech Republic), it makes perfect sense.
- Chardonnay — “Relatively easy to grow in a variety of locations. Consistently produces some of the world’s great white wines. Complex, full, rich and fruity with soft edges and moderate acidity. Offers rich and intense fruit flavors of apple, fig, melon, pear, peach, pineapple, along with creamy yeast spice, honey, butter and hazelnut flavors.”
Chardonnay is the quintessential sipping wine. While it can pair nicely with many types of food, my personal preference is to simply sip it solo, perhaps with a good book, a favorite TV show… or with some music playing in the background. For music, I’d select the “easy listening” category, populated by artists such as The Carpenters, Herb Alpert, or my late father’s all-time favorite piano player, Peter Nero. For a more contemporary example, think: Josh Groban. It’s music to soothe your soul, and it sounds even better with a good glass of Chardonnay at hand.
- Pinot Grigio — “In northeast Italy it makes a light, crisp and neutral wine. In Alsace it can be a delicately perfumed, honey-flavored wine, either dry or sweet, and with more color than most whites.”
As noted above, I am a simple man, and since most of the Pinot Grigio I drink comes from Italy, I prefer some “Italian music” to accompany it. Now, my definition of “Italian music” may be quite different than yours, and it may not even be technically correct. But when drinking Pinot Grigio, I want to hear artists such as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.
Hmm… I just realized both of those Italian singers are known for their interpretations of songs from what is known as “The Great AMERICAN Songbook.”
Perhaps I’m not such a simple man, after all.
