Sommelier Check - New Section in the Shop
Magazin | Journal Weinverkostung, Wissenswertes, Südafrika
Recently, we have launched a new section to help you choose between popular and lesser-known wines.
Who is Stefan Metzner?
We have known Stefan for more than 10 years and are continually impressed by his expertise. He traveled to South Africa, exploring many fine wineries and engaging in discussions with winemakers. He was particularly taken by Bosmans Optenhorst, a cellar that ranks among the world's best.
Over 30 years ago, Stefan Metzner transformed his hobby into a passion. Learning, tasting, sniffing, and evaluating have shaped his life ever since. Cultivating one’s taste and olfactory skills is vital, and a solid theoretical foundation enhances this practical approach. The subject of wine is highly complex and expansive.
Stefan is a trained Sommelier, wine academic (WSET Diploma), Certified Educator, VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, and Tito Pepe Sherry Master with his own wine school. In 2018, he was named the best Champagne educator in Europe and Laureat- Ambassadeur du Champagne.
The Goal - Assistance in Wine Selection
Stefan stresses that it is not always wise to purely seek out wines with the highest scores relative to their price. A wine rated 90 points on a 100-point scale may not be the one you currently desire. Key factors like complexity, concentration, balance, finish, and aging potential are crucial for evaluating a wine.
Wines we want to enjoy now or soon might not necessarily need aging potential. Conversely, if you’re looking for something light and easy, you don't need high complexity in your wine. Often, people enjoy a wine rated between 84 – 87 points more than a higher-rated wine that has been aged for a long time.
Moreover, the rating system does not account for the price-to-value ratio. For a fun evening with friends, a wine rated between 85 and 87 points may be just perfect. For those interested in aging their wines, it is usually better to choose options in the higher score segment due to their greater aging potential, complexity, and uniqueness.