French wine tasting at Swiss Deli

THE wine room of Swiss Deli in Bajada glistened with chilled wine glasses and sound of guests' crisp laughter during a recent wine tasting party.

Sponsored by Somellier Selection, the wine appreciation event didn't exposed guests to pushy wine salesmen or subjected them o boring sales pitches and speeches. The whole point about that night's wine tasting was really to have a wonderful time with wine and guests knowing more about wine.

Swiss Deli owners Romano and Rochelle Venuti with Markus purposely kept small the guest list small to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable evening of not only self-paced wine drinking but also an educational experience as well.

The couple’s brilliant energy and palate can be seen in the night’s exciting new France-made wine offerings.

What an ideal way to get friends and family together to learn about wine and experiment with new or unusual varieties.

What added charm and true credence to the place are the bartenders who answered questions or discuss basic topics pertinent to the wine selection.

The wine selection was paired with cheeses and Swiss Deli's assorted cold cuts.

Les Arbousiers Coteaux Du Languedoc (Languedoc, France)

Color: Medium Red

Nose: Fruity Aroma, a very nice medium bodied wine, very round, smooth and easy drinking with a light spicy finish

Colombelle Rose (Southwest, France)

Color: Ruby red with slight violet overtones

Nose: Intense notes of fresh berries on the nose with hints of exotic fruits

Palate: Smooth and refreshing with notes of cherry and wild strawberries and hints of spices creaing a harmonious and fruity finish

Food suggestion: Ideal with sushi and feta cheese

Domaine Mittnacht Freres Pinot Blanc & Auxerrois (Alsace, France)

Color: Sparkling wine with yellowish tints

Nose: It has a subtle nose yet fruity

Palate: It is supple and fresh with a slight hint of residual sugar

Food suggestion: A perfect hot-weather wine, especially with its moderate alcohol content

Domaine La Croix Caringole, Red (Languedoc, France)

Color: Red

Nose: Round and velvety on the nose with blueberries and sweet spices notes

Food suggestion: Best served a little chilled with barbeque meats, charcuterie and grilled sausages

Les Demoiselles de Falfas (Bordeaux, France)

Color: Ruby red with green notes

Nose: Dark forest fruits aroma with little spic and new wood notes

Palate: It has a sweet attack, juicy and lively mouth-feel> it is fresh and zingy with good grip and moderate finish

Food suggestion: Ideal with roasted chicken with cranberry sauce, gouda cheese and red berries and chocolate desserts

Borie de Maurel Esprit D? Automne (Languedoc, France)

Color: Red

Nose: It has the aromas of cherries and red fruits followed by perfumes of blck olives, tobacco and spices

Palate: Smooth balance with mineral taste and a final of mint and licorice

Food suggestion: Ideal with spicy food, barbequed ribs, grilled beef and Thai cuisine

Champalou Vouvray Vin Sec (Loire Valley, France)

Color: Pale gold in color with green highlights

Nose: Evoke aromas of apples and peaches mingling with lemons

Palate: It is lively with pleasurable freshness

Food suggestion: Perfect with grilled pork with wok vegetables, seafood platter, fried cod and Japanese cuisine

Chateau de la Liquiere A Mi Chemin (Languedoc, France)

Color: Brilliant color with yeloowish tints

Nose: Fresh aromas with citrus and white flower notes

Palate: A wine boasting freshness and crisp

Food suggestion: Ideal with seafood platters, grilled fish and veal

I went home with a basic lesson on wines -- that wine tasting is not the same as drinking it. To experience the true flavor of a wine requires that you slow down and pay attention to your senses of sight, smell, touch, as well as taste.

I was told that there are no right or wrong descriptions of how a wine tastes or smells. Don't rush the tasting experience; linger over the wine.

So did I!