Try a lesser known grape and reap the reward
Credit: illustration: paperface
Fancy a glass of feteasca regala or ribolla gialla? Until recently, the response of most drinkers might well have been a diffident “Not really” or even a robust “You what?” – the spirit of adventure being somewhat lacking in the thirsty majority. That’s assuming some more familiar option was on offer, of course.
It’s not an unreasonable position to take. Much of our pleasure in food and drink comes from the tantalising excitement of anticipation, the relish and satisfaction of playing over our prospective first sip in the imagination and then the pleasant un-surprise of taking it in reality. Many who might be open to discovering fresh flavours are put off by the faff of the new: how do you know what to pick if you’ve never heard of a grape, and can barely pronounce its name when you do encounter it?