Our Editor-in-Chief (and resident wine enthusiast), Milli Midwood recently went on an Instagram live with Lillet brand ambassador Olga Bebekina to bust wine myths and answer some of your questions. The half-hour session was filled with interesting facts, and info about the drink and how to make the most out of your bubbly. If you missed the informative chat, fear not because we have put together a quick summary to keep your wine knowledge up-to-date. So grab your notes app or a pen and paper to jot down some points.
A little about Lillet
Before we dive into the questions, let’s learn a little about the wine brand. Lillet is a subtle blend of wines and fruit infusions, which is a result of traditional craftsmanship and of expertise dating back nearly *150 years*. Not only do they collect their resources from fresh quality vineyards but also use environment-friendly practices. There are endless reasons to love this brand.
Via Instagram @lilletlavie
5 wine myths busted
Question: Does wine always get better with age?
Milli: No, but there are certain wines that should be drunk in the first couple of years like Sauvignon Blanc or rosé, and if you have them longer than that, chuck them away.
Olga: The majority of wine should be consumed as soon as possible.
Lillet’s fresh, it will never get better with time, only worse. Some of the wines, mostly fine wines with a high level of tannins, acidity or high alcohol, or high sweetness level, potentially can be kept for a long time. They develop with time and can actually get better, but not everyone likes aged wines.
Question: What is the longest time you left between opening a bottle and finishing it?
Milli: Two days for normal wine.
Question: How long can you keep a Lillet bottle open?
Olga: Three weeks, but in the fridge. It depends on the wine. Natural wines spoil quite quickly, even if it’s in the fridge for one or two days. With red wines, you can keep them in a bit for a little longer for three to four days.
Milli: And that’s because of how much oxygen has got into the bottle, so the oxygen spoils the wine.
Question: Is Lillet similar to the old Martini?
Olga: Not really, Lillet is a quite unique category of wine-based aperitifs. It’s not Vermouth, it’s not liquor, and it’s not a Martini. So, it’s a wine-based aperitif with some fruit infusion. Nothing more, no additives, no colouring. It’s a very natural product.
Martini is more of a plant-based drink so that’s the main difference. And in terms of production, Lillet is very clear that there’s nothing but wine and fusions.
Milli: You can actually drink Lillet straight if you wanted to.
Question: What do I need to know about pairing wines with food?
Milli: There are so many “rules” but ultimately it’s whatever you enjoy. Commonly sparkling wine goes well with seafood because the high acidity cuts through the fattiness of the fish. This is controversial, but I also like red wine with seafood because the high tannins have the same effect on the food.
Olga: It’s good to pair a wine that has a flavour profile similar to that of the food. For example, if you’re having duck with a berry sauce, you could pair it with a red Bordeaux, which will have notes of blackberry and blackcurrant.
Another tip is to look at the sauce of the dish – typically a white sauce pairs well with a white or rosé, and a red like – like something tomato-based, will go with a red sauce.
Question: Does drinking cheap wine make my hangovers worse?
Milli: Yes, it’s the sulfates in the wine which are a chemical used to preserve the wine, that is often linked to a bad hangover. Organic and vegan wines use little to no chemicals, so try one of those.
Question: Should red wine ever be chilled?
Milli: I really like chilled red wine. Especially in this region when it’s really hot. Try and chill your Pinot Noir or your Beaujolais before drinking them.
Olga: I think there’s a stereotype that red wine should be consumed at room temperature. Actually, it depends on the temperature of the room, so if it’s 30, it’s definitely not the right temperature for red wine. The best temperature is around 18 degrees in terms of Malbec, or for some quite full-body and rich wines. But in terms of Pinot Noir, some elegant light wines, the temperature should be a little bit lower like 16 degrees.
Small tip, put your bottle of red in the fridge 30 mins before you drink it.
Want to learn more? Press play on the video below to watch the full video.
Via @millimidwood on Instagram
Buy a bottle of Lillet at your nearest MMI store, the wine label is also available at most bars in the Middle East