{"id":56564,"date":"2020-07-27T13:08:06","date_gmt":"2020-07-27T03:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.signatureluxurytravel.com.au\/\/?p=56564"},"modified":"2021-02-22T14:10:46","modified_gmt":"2021-02-22T03:10:46","slug":"up-your-wine-knowledge-with-monacos-top-sommeliers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.signatureluxurytravel.com.au\/up-your-wine-knowledge-with-monacos-top-sommeliers\/","title":{"rendered":"Up your wine knowledge with Monaco’s top sommeliers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Responsible for more than 350,000 bottles of wine \u2013 the largest hotel collection of its kind in the world \u2013 it\u2019s fair to say the sommelier team at Monaco\u2019s Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo<\/a> know a thing or two about sipping, cellaring and savouring.<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1595817887869{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]What steps should you take when tasting a new bottle?<\/strong><\/p>\n

First, bring the wine to the right temperature: 10 to 12 degrees for whites, and 17 to 19 degrees for reds. Open the bottle about 30 minutes before serving: this will give it time to aerate, which is good for most wines. If it\u2019s a big white or a red, using a decanter is a good option. But be careful \u2013 older wines don\u2019t handle rebottling very well, so if you use a decanter, you\u2019re drinking the whole thing!<\/p>\n

How do you choose the right wine glass?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ideally, the bowl shouldn\u2019t be too big \u2013 20 centilitres is good. A big glass can go well with a young wine, which can handle lots of aeration, but it may wear out an older wine.<\/p>\n

What does the ideal wine cellar look like?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a highly person choice. If nothing else, you can stick to the following breakdown: 20 per cent champagnes, 30 per cent whites and 50 per cent reds. The rest is up to you! It also depends on what your goal is. If the idea is to keep the bottles for more than 20 years, you\u2019ll want to go with grand crus. Otherwise, most wines on the market can keep for up to 10 years.<\/p>\n

What makes a good cellar, in terms of temperature and humidity?<\/strong><\/p>\n

You should be aiming for 13 to 15 degrees and at least 70 per cent humidity.\u00a0If you have an underground cellar, one that is naturally cool and humid, then that\u2019s perfect. Otherwise, there are air conditioners made specially for\u00a0wine cellars<\/strong>, which will allow you to achieve an ideal, self-regulating atmosphere. You should also make sure that there isn\u2019t too much vibration.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”56569″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This article is a Signature Luxury Travel & Style<\/em>\u00a0digital exclusive. Be the first to see more exclusive online content by subscribing to the enewsletter\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lead image: The hotel’s wine collection is the largest of its kind in the world \u00a9 Monte Carlo Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 des Bains de Mer<\/p>\n

Keep reading:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n