The idea is impressively simple: first of all, you can have a Degustationsset of six half-liter bottles. And then the vintner is presenting these wines to a certain point in time. The customers and prospects to interact on social channels, which is streamed. In the case of Mounir this were Facebook and Youtube.
And, in fact: The participants of the first such interactive wine tasting, among them professionals like Vintners, wine journalists, and the famous Ampelograf José Vouillamoz, made full advantage of it, forwarded your impressions and questions as directly in the cellar in the wine village of Salgesch, in the upper Valais. It was not, why the Fendant taste in the throat, but only on the tip of the tongue. Or whether in the Valais in times of climate change with its higher temperatures, even beautiful Pinot noirs produced can be.
And what with the climate heating?
The answers gave Sandra and Olivier. And also each of the participants for themselves. Everyone could decide after tasting of the Pinots “Perle du Rhodan” for if the thumbs go up or not. My walked anyway, up. And for the entire occasion? Also, since. With Peter Keller, moreover, one of the most accomplished wine journalists, Switzerland has been switched on. His opinion on the topic of Valais Pinot: “In the Valais, where it is very hot, it can be difficult because of the climate warming. Because you have to rather then go into the height, to Pinot to grow. And you must not harvest too late.” And what he thinks of the Event? “We live by the tasting, by direct contact, from the visit to the winery. This can replace a digital-tasting never. But in bizarre times, that is very exciting. You’re pioneers.”
Mounir streamed the occasion, not with the phone, but with a professional TV production team, with five cameras. His assessment: “What gave me a downright chicken skin, is that many of the participants said later that they had can think for a few minutes on something other than this Virus.” And after all, were well logged 400. “Which is why I go out of around a thousand participants,” says Mounir, “because two of the most sat or third in front of the screens.”
About 500 sold tasting kits
The film crew could afford the Salgescher winemakers by the way, just because “a promotional film crew at the Moment, but zero orders, which is why it was such an exciting thing for a special price.” Because the wine industry is completely in tatters, as the gastronomy. At the least, a rather smaller winery such as the Cave du Rhodan, for trade fairs and tastings vital. “In the three weeks since the Lockdown, two customers visited just our cellar to buy wine. Of course, we now sell more online. But this is not our core business. The bottom line eighty percent of the sales are broken away. This is the existence!” Since the over 500 sold, tasting sets, the sent Mounir for 92 Swiss francs, a drop on the hot stone. But all the same.
During the lock downs, Mounir has now planned to further tasting events. But not such a large more. “The next events are limited to twenty participants, and then switches all of them over zoom.com via video conference.” The help after all, to stay a bit in contact with the customer.
5 of the 6 tasted Rhodan wines at a GLANCE Test Fendant in 2018: Typical, slightly mineral nose, black tea, peach, green Apple, tangerine, Mouth-filling, melting, sprightly and fresh, drinkable, medium-long finish. Precision-made Fendant! Score: 16,75/20 (15 Swiss francs) Petite Arvine 2018 (photo) : Beautiful Mandarin nose, slightly mineral, floral, melting, perfectly balanced, salinity towards the end, depth, drinkable, supple, samtenes, quite long finish. Score: 17,5/20 (23 Swiss francs) Blanc de Noir 2018: , A Rosé from Pinot noir grapes with a sweeping floral nose, raspberries, welfare rights Abundance, but nice acid backbone, melting, precisely fermented, drinkable, medium in length. Score: 16,25/20 (16 Swiss francs) Perle du Rhodan Pinot noir in 2018: sour cherries, spice, herbs, melting, nice Balance with a subtle acidity structure, back Chriesi, not überextrahiert, pleasant to the taste-juicy, strawberries in the elegant, fresh, medium long Finish. Score: 16,75/20 (17.50 Swiss francs) Humagne Rouge in 2018: Berry, red Fruits, light spice, melting, Filling, crisp, but never dominant acidity, subtle tannins, juicy, surprisingly harmoniously, benefiting certainly from the heat of the year 2018, Abundance, bodied, drinkable-favors, medium finish. Score: 16,75/20 (23.50 Swiss francs)
(All the wines are available at www.rhodan.ch. Prices are for 75 cl bottles)
