Music and Wine
Most of us probably already think of specific wines going
well with certain music. The first time
I became aware of music and wine complementing each other was in college back
in 1968 when I was at a professor’s home and she had a recording of Bach
transcriptions by the guitarist, Andre Segovia. We were drinking a Portuguese rose with a very
lovely nose. I believe it was called Costa
del Sol. Back then, many of
us drank Mateus, Lancers, etc. and thought Paul Masson was a premium wine. I
remember thinking that the wine went well with the music. Because I was more
interested in music than wine, I purchased the record and only recently found a
CD replacement. It is still one of my
favorite recordings, and I’m certain the association with wine had some effect.
This was my first experience of thinking that wine went well with the
music.
The next time I remember an experience of wine with music
was in 1973 when I bought my first audio system. I often came home after work, poured a glass
of wine and put on some music. I don’t
remember what I was drinking, but it was some innocuous white wine like a
Chenin Blanc. I was playing some
dramatic piano music, Liszt transcriptions of opera pieces, and remember that
the wine did not seem to go well with the music.
The third experience was the most educational and actually
involved an attempt to pair wine with the music. In 1978, when in graduate school, I often
took a Saturday night break by going to a French restaurant that became a
nightclub after dinner with live jazz.
The music was played by The Gabe Baltazar Quartet. I went there frequently and often shared a
bottle of wine with a friend. I
distinctly remember trying to find a wine that went well with the music. Although I drank mostly red wines at home, I would
order white wines, dry, lively wines similar to Alsatian Pinot Blancs. That is what went well for me with the
music. Since then, whenever I’ve been at
a jazz nightclub, I’ve tried to chose a wine to complement the music. At most classical concerts, wine is not available. But in Napa
that sometimes happens.
For nearly 30 years, we have lived in Napa
where the wineries often have concerts and where music is almost as much of
wine drinking as food is. There are music concerts at Mondavi, Domain Chandon and other wineries. Then there are Music in the Vineyards and various wine cave concerts. Napa Valley Opera House offers wine before the performances and at intermission. Silo's , a local jazz club serving premium wines, is noted for "Pairing great wine with great music." I’m still
waiting to learn of a winery that offers a wine, food and music pairing at their tastings. It is so obvious; it must
be happening somewhere.
At home, I listen to many hours of classical music and jazz
and sometimes have a glass of wine while listening, especially if a friend is
over. Many people probably do the same
thing. How many of us would listen to Wagner’s
Tristan und Isolde while drinking a rose?
Would we listen to Ravel’s Jeux D’eau and open a big Napa Cab? Obviously not. I once thought of composers in terms of being
varietal wines, but the music of composers is too diverse and varietals can
have quite a range of styles also. But
individual pieces of music do seem to pair better with certain wines. I’ve never compiled a list of wines that
complement musical works, but one could easily do so. Wine and music go so well
together. I’d love to hear from others
regarding your thoughts and experiences of music and wine complementing each
other.
Wine Pairing with
Music
We pair wine with food, events, weather, seasons, company,
etc., so why not pair wine with music? There is actually a fair amount of
information about this on the Internet, and there is even an annual convention
of wine and music pairing. Here are a some links if you are interested:
Wine paired with music at a winery:
4th Annual Wine and Music Pairing:
Music alters the taste of wine:
Music to drink wine by:
Blog article:
Comment on Chateau Montelena webpage “Music Pairing with
Wines?”
Wine and music pairings:
Wine and classical composers:
Wine Spectator article Pairing Wine and Music:
Matching music and wine: What Music Makes Your Wine Taste
Better?
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