FOOD + DRINK
in the market for vineyard tours in Kent , she began the creation of Wine Tours of Kent - a bespoke service that allows groups to spend the day travelling from vineyard to vineyard across the county , sampling delicious wines and learning about the unique processes each grower and winery takes to produce their wine . From boutique vineyards and family run farms , to supermarket players and big wineries , Abi offers a chauffeured service to each location , so everyone is able to sit back and enjoy the best of Kentish wines .
A seasoned expert in wine tasting , we asked Abi for her top tips on getting the most out of wines . “ Refrain from taking a big gulp and make sure that the first sip is a small one , hold it in your mouth , swirl it around and breathe in . Science tells us that this oxygenates the wine , opening it up to really get those flavours out ,” says Abi . Tasting is actually an extension of smelling and most of the flavours you get when tasting wine come via your nose through the connection at the back of your mouth , a process called retronasal olfaction . A human ’ s five tastes : bitter , sweet , salt , acid and umami ( savouriness ), and the physical feel from tannins and alcohol , creates that specific and strong sensation of having that wine in your mouth and around your taste buds .
“ When tasting wine ,” adds Abi . “ Try to see if you recognise particular flavours of fruits and spices , to make this easier , limit the amount of perfume or aftershave you wear to ensure you can really pick out those aromas in the wines . My other simple , but brilliant tip is to drink water between each wine to cleanse your palate , you will also thank yourself for this the next day ! Remember , safety is also important ; if touring vineyards , find a designated driver or join a wine tour , if not , always ask for a spittoon . Have fun ! We aim to show that the wine industry here in Kent is inviting and inclusive to all .”
Wine connoisseur or not , Abi and the experience her business provides is sure to be one to remember fondly . “ Our Wine Tours of Kent are bespoke and we have guests joining us that are newbies right through to wine buffs ,” she explains . “ We aim to adapt each wine tour to suit the group of visitors and make sure they are learning something new about English wine . As we offer a personal wine guide to transport guests around to three different vineyards , there are lots of opportunities to taste wine at each stop .”
For those looking to really enhance their wine knowledge and have some wonderfully memorable experiences while learning , Kent Wine School (
www . localwineschool . com / kent ) in Tunbridge Wells are a local , independent wine and spirits education company that host regular wine tastings and courses for people who enjoy wine and want to learn more about it . The leading provider of WSET courses in Kent and an approved provider of Wine Scholar Guild courses , Kent Wine School ’ s courses and wine tastings focus on enjoying wine and learning more in a relaxed and informal setting with friendly people and industry-leading tutors . insideKENT spoke to Victoria Aldwinckle , Dip WSET , SWS , certified wine and spirits educator , and partner and lead tutor at Kent Wine School who gave us the following tips .
At Kent Wine School , our focus is all about education – how to enable our wine students to make better wine buying choices simply by being armed with great wine knowledge . Here are a few thoughts to get you started :
• Don ’ t judge a bottle by its label . Very average wine brands make up for what ’ s in the bottle with lots of clever images . Stick to what the label actually says , such as provenance .
• Head off the beaten track . The best options are
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