V&A Wine Pairing Questions

[deej696]

My fiance and I are dining at V&A in a couple weeks during our honeymoon. We are debating between the wine pairing, and simply ordering our own. Does each course have a different wine? Is it a pretty good mix of white and red? I'm assuming this has more to do with what food is ordered, but I am mostly a red wine drinker and not a fan of too many whites, so thats why I'm curious. Anyway any pointers here would be great

 

[ScottJoseph]

The wine pairings are chosen to complement each course, so, on very simplistic terms, you'd expect a white with a fish course and a red with a meat course. That said, I'm sure if you made your preference known to the server, he or she could pair a red wine with any course (some reds go very nicely with seafood). The wine pairings are a good opportunity to try a variety and sample some wines you may not be familiar with.
And you may not think you're going to like a particular wine, but if you drink it in concert with the appropriate food, you may be surprised.
Scott
ScottJosephOrlando

 

[Booyakasha]

I would suggest the pairing as it would be difficult to find 1 or 2 bottles that would compliment the entire menu like the pairing does. That being said it is possible. Talk to the Sommelier and tell him/her your preferences. They can adjust the pairing accordingly or suggest maybe a bottle of red and a bottle of white that would work with the entire meal. You could always order a dessert wine by the glass.

B.

 

[ElizabethB]

If you like wine, the wine pairings are the way to go. They bring out high quality wines, which are not otherwise available by the glass. Israel Perez, the Sommelier, does truly marvelous pairings. The wines do generally follow the red with meat, white with seafood, but with great creativity and originality.

We've had a great mix of New World (California, Oregon, Washington), Old World (France, Italy and Spain) and some Latin American and Australian wines for variety.

It is a lovely experience to sit back and see what wines they bring out, depending upon what you order.

In a review a couple of years back, the wine writers for the Wall Street Journal stated that rarely had they enjoyed such creative and inspired pairings as those done at V&A.

Upshot -- go with the wine pairings if you love wine. Put yourselves in their expert hands and enjoy!

 

[kesharn81]

Wine pairing is the best option according to me...

 

[iluvpluto27]

As everyone has said the wine pairings are the way to go. I'm mostly a red wine drinker myself, but the food choices I made were mostly paired with a white wine. However I really surprised myself and enjoyed the whites almost as much as the red, as the pairings really brought out the flavour of both the food and wine.

 

[engle]

I too really like all the wines at V&A....I am not too into whites but loved everyone with the food!!!

Do it if you even remotely like wine. Warning....you will be at least quite tipsy at the end of the evening....I bordered on DRUNK.

But it was fun!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Israel Perez, the Maitre'D, is one step away from being classified as a Master Sommelier. I think he is very knowledgeable about wines.

 

[Booyakasha]

Israel Perez, the Maitre'D, is one step away from being classified as a Master Sommelier. I think he is very knowledgeable about wines.

Best of luck as the last step is a HUGE one.

B.

 

[deej696]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. We are definitely going to do the pairings, as it seems to be the way to go, which was pretty much what I figured anyway. It sounds like the red wine drinkers all came out good in the end which was my primary concern. Looking forward to it, as this will be our first visit to V&A. I had always wanted to save it for a special occasion, I figure the day after our wedding is pretty special