Leslie Sbrocco is aware of wine. She is an award-winning advisor, speaker, writer, and tv host most identified for her entertaining method to wine. I met Leslie over 20 years in the past on a Crystal Cruises journey to Alaska when she taught seminars about wine. At the moment she speaks concerning the wonders of wine and easy methods to pair this scrumptious beverage with meals. You’ll be able to watch Leslie on distinguished discuss exhibits, one in every of her 4 TV exhibits, inside lecture rooms, or at digital tasting occasions.
Whereas visiting my hometown of Petaluma, California, I met up with Leslie for an informal interview. She takes the concern and ritual out of wine and wine pairings; she makes wine approachable and enjoyable.
You communicate with authority about wine. How do you make it approachable to everybody?
I encourage individuals to combine wine into their on a regular basis life. I don’t put wine on a pedestal. Having made wine and brought winemaking programs at UC Davis, I perceive the technicality of creating it. Producing good wine may be very troublesome, however I’ve made it. I’ve additionally made awful wine.
A very long time in the past I used to be decided to develop into a wine choose. To develop into proficient, I wanted to study every thing I may about wine, together with figuring out and comprehending the technical items, the refined nuances, and the enjoyable components. If you’ll be a specialist in one thing, it’s essential perceive each side and be capable to current it to individuals in a approach that they will relate to their lives.
Why do you’re keen on what you do?
I like every thing about wine, the tales, the individuals concerned, and the function wine performs in cultures world wide. I like to jot down concerning the individuals behind the wine. I train lessons and do digital tastings that assist individuals uncover why they like this or don’t like that, but it surely’s as much as them to determine it out.
You’ve made fairly a reputation for your self. What prompted your TV exhibits?
Years in the past I requested myself easy methods to mix my love of meals and wine. I wrote an article about wine for an area newspaper and constructed my profession from there. The web obtained concerned, and one in every of my wine-loving contacts at Microsoft employed me to be the wine producer of “Sidewalk,” Microsoft Company’s try and create a gaggle of complete internet portals oriented towards particular cities, mainly a metropolis information.
After Sidewalk, I constructed a wine web site for the native paper, the Press Democrat. The paper’s guardian firm was the New York Occasions, and so they requested me to create a wine web site for them. I labored laborious to construct a community of individuals and wrote my first guide, Wine for Girls. After the guide was printed, talking engagements adopted. Later, I circled again to TV, did CBS Wine Minute, and the At the moment Present invited me on due to my guide. I work laborious and go for what I believe will make me joyful.
What’s your favourite wine?
I normally say the wine in my glass, however that’s not true. It’s all the time Champagne. Glowing wines can be a common class, however rosé Champagne is my favourite. I additionally take pleasure in nice world-class glowing wines as a result of they go together with every thing.
Are you able to suggest any thrilling new wine locations?
When contemplating wine in Italy, individuals usually consider Tuscany, Umbria, and even lesser-known locations like Prosecco. Nevertheless, Sicily is likely one of the prettiest locations to strive Italian wine, and it’s an undiscovered treasure with fabulous wines. I might not say it’s new, however I fell in love with Sicily a number of years in the past earlier than the pandemic.
What’s your philosophy on wine and meals?
Drink what you want and eat what you need. Name it a day and revel in. But when I have to take a look at the instruments I exploit after I pair meals and wine, I think about the sauces and the spices. I ask myself what the model of the wine is. You need the 2 to bounce collectively and never wrestle with one another. Pairing a lightweight, delicate wine with an enormous, strong dish is tough. Preserve them extra comparable in model however use the complement or distinction philosophy if they aren’t.
What are your favourite Tuesday evening, Saturday evening, and special day wines?
I like rosé, however I’m an equal alternative pinot noir drinker and respect all types. I like the lighter and leaner ones but additionally take pleasure in a number of larger ones like these from the Santa Rita Hills space. These are my favorites: a rosé with Greek rooster and hummus on Tuesday evening; Saturday evening bubbles with something and every thing; and for an important day, a strong 10-year-old Napa cabernet sauvignon or an outdated Bordeaux with an enormous steak. I additionally love Chilean cabernet sauvignon.
Do you will have a favourite pairing?
Potato chips and Champagne, or you may trade the chips for popcorn. It’s enjoyable to strive a tasting I did on the At the moment Present with bowls of popcorn topped with varied issues like flavored salts, chili powder, olive oil, or truffle oil. Something salty with bubbles is superb.
The place have you ever had your most memorable pairing?
I used to be in San Francisco 15 years in the past at one of many eating places on my present. It’s not there, however I sat on the bar and had a Kabinett-style (created from absolutely ripe grapes) German riesling. I consider it was a Fritz Hagg, a drier-style Riesling with only a whisper of sweetness. The wine arrived with a grilled onion and radicchio salad topped with blue cheese and a easy French dressing. The excessive acid within the wine and the excessive acid within the French dressing complemented each other. The radicchio’s bitterness and the smokiness from grilling the greens didn’t overpower the wine. I bear in mind pondering, “Oh, my gosh.” This pairing has caught in my thoughts ever since.
If somebody wished to start amassing wine, what steps would you suggest? You must style and check out it. Collectible means many issues: are you conserving them for 20 years, are you constructing a world-class cellar, or are you simply placing bottles away to place a few years on them to take pleasure in later? Mess around, purchase two or three bottles, and open them on totally different dates. Style every over a 12 months or maintain every for a 12 months and see what it’s like. Look ahead to the evolution over time. Begin with 4 or 5 classes and put money into a number of totally different types of cabernets and chardonnays. In case you like candy wines, buy a sauternes or late-harvest California wine. Purchase a number of bottles of every and check out them over time to construct your assortment. Lastly, purchase a Coravin.
