University of Virginia Library

Wine Connoisseurs Hold Tasting In Rotunda

By Holly Smith
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Photo By Andy Stickney

Wine Tasters Sample California's Finest

Tasters Found Emerald Dry Best After Much Gastronomical Exploration

A variety of red, white and rose wines
from California were featured at the Wine
Tasting held in the Rotunda Monday
evening. The University Union-sponsored
event drew a crowd of about 200
enthusiastic participants.

The tasting session began with a talk
by wine connoisseur Cecil Kahmann, who
gave a brief history of wine growing, then
talked about the qualities of wine in general.
Aside from the taste of a wine varying according
to its temperature, Mr. Kahmann explained that
"letting the wine breathe" (leaving it open to
the air) also affects its aroma and bouquet.

The audience began to show evidence of
restlessness as the lecture continued, then
swarmed up to the wine-laden tables once the
talk concluded.

All of the wine tables were grouped to one
side of the room creating a considerable crush
of imbibers and the necessity of developing
methods to get refills more often than once
every half hour. The more agile drinkers were
carrying handfuls of glasses containing a
colorful array of the fruit of the vine.

Among the white wines, the Paul Masson
"Emerald Dry" seemed to be the favorite
choice, judging by the amount consumed by
the crowd. The Cabernet Sauvignon from the
Charles Krug vineyards was among the most
popular in the red wine category.

Not a few tasters noticed that as they moved
down the line all the wines started tasting good.