Whether you consider yourself a novel wine taster or knowledgeable enthusiast with a discerning palette, you are sure to find more than a little something to enjoy—and learn—at this year’s Columbus Food & Wine Affair, set for 7 to 10 p.m., Friday, September 29 at the Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, Ohio. Now in its fourth year, the event is drawing praise as a Mecca for culinary industry professionals as well for wine lovers. The event showcases some of the world’s most recognized vintners. But are you wondering if you can hold your own at such a function? Never fear. Matt Citriglia is here.
Citriglia has 22 years of experience in the wine industry including retail ownership and restaurant and wholesale management. Currently, he is General Sales Manager for a local wine wholesaler and Vice Chairman for the Court of Master Sommeliers. He lectures nationally on a variety of wine-related topics. He’s also the first to say that wine shouldn’t be intimidating.
He likens learning about wine to learning about music. “Usually, you are not intimidated by walking into a music store,” he says. “That’s because you’ve been listening to music since you were a baby. You grow to learn what you like, so venturing into a music store to buy a CD is something we don’t think about twice. With wine, however,” he shares, “many of us didn’t start to think about what we like until later in our lives—after we started families and careers. Now it’s new to us, and because wine is so diverse it seems complicated.” Citriglia says that’s just not so. “Anyone who can understand a diverse selection of music can also understand wines.”
Where to begin? Citriglia says to ease into the experience. Start simple. For example, learn about a grape and its growing region. When you taste a wine, keep in mind what grape it was made with and where it was produced. “If you just start there,” he says, “tasting wine becomes far less complicated. You’ll start to learn what grapes you like and don’t like, what regions you like and don’t like.” Again, he adds the music analogy. “If you know you like classical musical, you don’t go the rap section.”
Citriglia also suggests starting domestically. “You can jump into European wines, but you’ve got other factors to consider there: foreign languages, foreign regions. By starting with domestic wines, you have a lot more understanding from the start.” Citriglia says as you begin to know your grapes, try various wines from different regions that were made with that grape. For example, buy a chardonnay from Napa Valley, one from Monterey and one from Russian River. “They are all the same type of wine but you will notice they don’t all taste the same because Mother Nature has her fingerprint on it.”
Citriglia will share his wine expertise and tips at this year’s Columbus Food & Wine Affair—and he encourages others to join him. “It’s the best exposure to wine,” he says. “It’s full immersion, head first! It’s a great chance to sample a lot of grape varieties and growing regions. As you go through the tasting, you’ll get acclimated to trying different wines and taking note of the growing regions and grape varieties.”
The public is invited to attend the Columbus Food & Wine Affair that features over 200 wineries pouring more than 450 wines, food tastings from over 25 of Central Ohio’s best restaurants and a “delectable” silent auction. All proceeds benefit local charities including the Central Ohio Restaurant Association (CORA), 10TV Family Fund, United Way of Central Ohio, Adventures For Wish Kids, and the Ian Adams Van Heyde Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund provides scholarships to Central Ohio high school graduates pursuing advanced education in restaurant management, culinary arts or food service.
Cost per guest is $100, and admission includes a commemorative Riedel wine glass and an official Columbus Food & Wine Affair Taster’s Guide. Tickets are available at www.foodandwineaffair.com and at participating retail shops and restaurants.
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FOR THE MORE ADVENTUROUS - Master Sommelier Matt Citriglia will host a lively discussion and private tasting entitled, “French Bordeaux vs. California Cabernet: Why they should never be compared!” This special event takes place 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. just prior to the Grand Tasting at the Columbus Food & Wine Affair (CFWA). Citriglia’s portion will also be held at the Franklin Park Conservatory on Friday, Sept. 29.
Connoisseurs and critics worldwide have long argued which wine is better. According to Citriglia, this is much like arguing over which car is better—a Lamborghini or Rolls Royce. The influences that shape the Cabernet grape in California or Bordeaux are very different and, in the past, have created very different wines. Today, Citriglia says, the differences between the two should be embraced and celebrated.
Featured tasting wines at this event include 2002 Clos Du Marquis (St. Julien, Bordeaux); 2002 Chateau La Garde (Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux); 2002 Bernardus Marinus (Carmel Valley, California); 2002 Franciscan Magnificat (Napa Valley, California) and two blind samples. Tickets for this private tasting are $50 per attendee (in addition to the $100 Grand Tasting general admission ticket). For more on this very special event, go to www.foodandwineaffair.com and click the link to “Private Reserve Tasting."
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