Test-tube tastings and a virtual masterclass from your own home
Wine tasting from the couch? Check out this innovative project from Adelaide’s National Wine Centre, bringing some of our region’s tastiest drops to your home with a virtual masterclass on tasting.
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Wine drinkers can now sniff, swirl and sip while learning about regional drops from the comfort of their own homes, thanks to virtual tastings that don’t require them to commit to buying a whole bottle.
One innovative concept from Adelaide’s National Wine Centre sends out six 50ml test tubes of wine to ticket holders of the A-Z of Australian Wine Regions virtual masterclasses, conducted via video-conferencing app Zoom.
The centre’s head sommelier, James Boden, hosts the live sessions and is joined by guest winemakers. All participants need is six glasses, a computer and webcam – plus a microphone to join the Q&A.
“It was a question of how can we get wineries engaged and get people still buying wine, in what is now a flooded market online,” Mr Boden said.
The idea of using test tubes was a “2am brainwave”.
“There is only so much TV you can watch and board games you can play,” he said.
“A lot of couples are doing it together – we didn’t quite expect that – so that’s actually quite nice.”
The idea has even attracted interest from across the border, with keen wine drinkers from NSW and Victoria purchasing kits for this Thursday’s Barossa class.
Test tube kits and tickets to the online class cost $40, or $70 for two sets, through nationalwinecentre.com.au.
The ban on cellar door tastings has also encouraged individual wineries to home-deliver tasting packs.
McLaren Vale’s Dowie Doole is sending out its “Tasting Pod” of six samples for $50 (including two glasses), as is Jericho Wines ($25).