Brad coerced Stig Hedlund into conducting a wine tasting test.  9 bottles were covered up and coded: A chardonnay, a Cabernet Savignon and a Merlot.  A small group of volunteers tried identify the better wine (brought by Stig from his wine shop) vs. the $1.99 Charles Shaw and the $2.99 Chilean Trader Joe’s products (bought by Brad)

Gil Stromsoe got all three right and was named “Sommelier for the Day”  At the other end of the scale, Ernie Aragon able to enjoy the value offerings.

Stig also taught the assembled audience that we should taste wines using the five “S’s”:

• swirl it around to get the air in it to oxidize the esters
• see the color, clarity, etc.
• sniff it; smell is more important that the taste buds for wine
• slurp it, don’t sip. Suck some air into your mouth then…
• swallow and enjoy.