I received quite an enthusiastic response from last week’s column dedicated to the importance of women in the wine world. Several of the people who contacted me were successful women in Shanghai who are increasingly expressing themselves and their unique styles though their wine and lifestyle decisions. My enjoyable dialogues with these confident and opinionated women caused me to reflect on personalities of the past and wine styles today. Great figures in history have long enjoyed wine and their wine preferences have intriguing parallels with their personalities. With this in mind, I thought it would be fun as well as informative to look back at some of the great personalities in history and portray their styles through wines.
Ancient Figures
Alexander the Great, also known as Alexander III, was one of the most successful military commanders in history. Victory in battles allowed him to become the Emperor of the Greek Empire. He aspired to the ideal of uniting the human race. He believed he was divinely inspired to pursue a policy of fusion that exemplified his talent for absorbing various ideas and integrating foreignness. He was also a man of robust appetites who enjoyed good wine and often drank and learned to appreciate the wines of the regions he conquered. One wine that reflects his personality and style is Syrah from Sicily. These international style wines are made from a globally popular grape that features wonderful exotic spicy flavors and a special combination of Sicilian terroir and international flavors and textures that truly reflects the diversity and power of the great hero of the Hellenic Age, Alexander the Great. One of the best Syrah wines from Sicily that’s available in Shanghai is the Planeta Syrah IGT.
Another great figure of ancient times who also enjoyed wines was Cleopatra VII who was born in 69 B.C. She held the ancient Egyptian title pharaoh, and her death marked the end of Hellenic era. Many people of the time believed she was the reincarnation and embodiment of the goddess of wisdom, and she was indeed a charming beauty. Initially she shared power with her father, brothers, and husbands hen used her charisma and strong character to become the sole ruler of the empire, Cleopatra’s legendary seductive powers captivated both Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. Arguably the greatest white wines ever made come from the Cote de Beaune villages of Chassagne Montrachet and Puligny Montrachet. The captivating style and elegance as well as elegance of these Chardonnay white wines exemplify the strengths of Cleopatra while their golden-yellow color would match the beauty of her reputed deep golden colored skin. Like Cleopatra, the wines of Chassagne Montrachet and Puligny Montrachet don’t come cheap, but like the lady they are unique examples of beauty that should be missed.
Modern leaders
A more recent world figure who greatly appreciated wines was Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill. He was an accomplished writer, speaker and politician who had a particular love for full-bodied Champagnes. At the turn of the century when he covered the Boar War he was the world’s highest paid correspondent and traveled with his own wine cellar. As wartime Prime Minister his skillful rhetoric helped harden a nation’s resolve in the most trying of times. Paraphrasing Napolean he was fond of saying about Champagne, “in victory you deserve it; in defeat you need it”. The Champagnes that best typify Churchill’s machismo, emotional and romantic nature and versatility are traditionally-made Champagnes that are fermented in oak like Bollinger Grande Annee and R.D. as well as the Champagnes of Krug. Though most the wines made by Pol Roger are now made in a lighter style, their Winston Churchill Cuvee still retains the robust and weighty character that Churchill so loved.
Another charismatic leader of the 20th century was John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Referred to as JFK, he was the youngest man to be elected president as well as the first Catholic. His personal magnetism and intellectual bend was perfectly complemented by his stylish and trendsetting wife Jacqueline. As I’ve mentioned in prior columns they helped raised the level of food and wine in the White House to new heights favoring top American Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Napa Valley along with occasional French wines like the elegant Sancerre wines that Jacqueline reputedly favored. As JFK was a pioneer in his own right and exemplified a new style of more outgoing and charismatic U.S. leaders, the exuberant and unabashedly American Cabernet Sauvignons that he favored also perfectly mirror his personality. About the same time JFK was making his name in politics, already established Napa producers like Beaulieu Vineyards, Beringer and Chateau Montelena started making a new style of red wine that could compete with some of the best red wines of Bordeaux. All of these historic producers make lovely Cabernet Sauvignon wines that are available in Shanghai.
Express you own style
Learning about some of the great figures of history and wines that express their special styles is a enjoyable way to learn about the diverse styles of wines. But most important is to find wines that express you own unique style. Should you find a region, grape or style of wine that pleases you then learn more about them and taste other similar wines. The world of wine is so diverse and often complicated that the best way to better understand and pick wines is to focus on what you like best. And don’t be surprised when the wines you love best and drink most often also reflect you own personality and character!
