Caviar: Next Time Think Icewine Instead of Champagne!

Six of the world’s top sommeliers gathered in a posh restaurant in Moscow, Russia to come to a decision on the best wine to enjoy with Caviar. The event is told at the restaurant’s website and is a great one for Icewine and Caviar lovers!

Vladimir Bassov,Best Russia’s Sommelier 2002; Anton Panasenko, Best Russia’s Sommelier 2003; Pavel Shvets, Best Russia’s Sommelier 2000; Jan Skopkin(City of Omsk), four of Russia’s top sommeliers, were joined by sommeliers Markus Del Monego (from Germany, and 1998 Sommelier of the World), Joakim Karlsson (Sweden) and Dan Lystad (Best Sommelier of Norway 2001 & 2003).

They assembled at the Casa Del Vino in Moscow to sample fifteen wines and three types of caviar; Sevruga, Osietra, and Beluga. Among the fifteen wines were a selection champagnes, and wines in styles made from Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Savagnin, and Chardonnay, and two Riesling ice wines.

The result of the blind tasting exercise? The clear winner was a German Riesling ice wine. The group surmised that Champagnes have become dryer and dryer since the 1800s and the sweet and salty nature of Champagne and caviar is no longer a relevant comparison. Champagnes have simply evolved out of sweetness over 200 years. In an amazing unanimity, the saltiness of caviar simply needed the sweetness of a Riesling ice wine as a best choice!

For more information please visit The Casa Del Vino website at www.casadelvino.ru or www.vinocanada.com