[speaker001:] Hello there, welcome to Wine World. Let me know if I can help you out at all.
[speaker002:] Um, yes, please, I could really use some help. I'm going over to my boss' house for dinner tonight and don't know what kind of wine I should bring.
[speaker001:] OK, do you know what kind of food will be served?
[speaker002:] Well, his wife is Japanese. He said she makes really good sushi.
[speaker001:] Hmm, that's a bit of a challenge. Sushi is notoriously difficult to pair with wine. Well, let's see. have to be a white wine, of course.
[speaker002:] Why? Wouldn't a red wine go well with sushi?
[speaker001:] No, I don't think so. Sushi is a very delicately flavored food, and red wine would be a jarring contrast. You need a white wine, which has more subtle flavors, to complement the fish.
[speaker002:] I see. So should I get a bottle of Chardonnay? That's a white wine, right?
[speaker001:] Yes, Chardonnay is a white wine, but I'm not sure it'd be your best bet. Chardonnay is one of the more fullbodied whites, and tends to be a bit oaky. I'd suggest that you go for something brighter, like this Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.
[speaker002:] Sauvignon Blanc? What's that?
[speaker001:] That's another varietal, or type of grape, just like Chardonnay.
[speaker002:] Let's see. The label says it's got " attractive citrus and grassy aromas that give way to crisp, mineral flavors and a bonedry finish. Serve chilled. " Oh, no, how long will it take to chill the wine? I'm on my way to the dinner now.
[speaker001:] It's OK, don't worry, we'll just choose a wine from the cooler. We don't have quite as extensive a selection over here, but... this Rhone Valley white would be lovely.
[speaker002:] All right. What varietal is that?
[speaker001:] Well, this is a French wine, so they don't always specify the varietal on the label. The French believe that the soil a grape is grown in is one of the most important factors in the final flavor of the wine. This wine is probably a blend of a few different types of grapes, mostly Viognier, I'd guess.
[speaker002:] And you think this is a good wine?
[speaker001:] Yes, this is one of our best-sellers. It's not quite as dry as the Sauvignon Blanc we were looking at earlier, which means it's more approachable. It's light and crisp, with a bit of a vanilla aroma.
[speaker002:] Perfect! I'll take it!