The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, September 04, 2001, Image 3

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Chris Bear, a senior computer engi-
eering major and a waiter at Cafe
xcell. is required to have an extensive
nowledge of wines and an ability to
pair them with the restaurant’s entrees.
“We want to be able to marry the
flavors,” Bear said. “If someone orders
rigatoni, they don’t want the wine they
drink with it to dominate the palate, but
ather enhance the flavor of the food.”
I To learn more about wine pairing,
one first must get to know their wines.
To do so, a basic understanding of
what wine should look, smell and taste
like is necessary.
Winemaker Paul Bonarrigo, owner
of Messina Hof Wine Cellars, suggests
that students become familiar with the
basics to become more comfortable
ordering* wine at dinner or choosing a
bottle at the store.
The first thing one notices about
wine is that it is either white, blush or
red. With some experience, the color
also will be able to indicate the wine’s
age. White wines gain color with age
whereas red wines lose color as they
get older. Attention to color will help
introduce the aspiring connoisseur to a
particular wine.
The next step is to swirl and smell
the wine. It may seem like senseless
snobbery, but swirling the wine actual
ly releases compounds that, when
combined with oxygen, helps the
aroma and bouquet to emerge.
“I’ve only seen a handful of people
actually swirl and sniff the wine
before ordering at the restaurant,”
Bear said. “It’s usually people who
really know their wines and are prob
ably ordering something on reserve.”
It is, however, a useful practice
because smelling the wine can actual
ly reveal deficiencies in its production.
For example, the smell of vinegar
indicates too much acid, a nutty smell
suggests too much oxidation and a
smell of burnt matches reveals an
excess of sulfur dioxide. This hint
might help the wine enthusiast to
avoid bad wine because, as the saying
goes, “life is too short to drink bad
wine.”
After sniffing comes the fun part:
tasting the wine. There are taste buds all
over the mouth that are bypassed when
gulping down a glass of wine at a party
or bar. These specific sensations of taste
occur on both sides of the tongue, under
and on the tip of the tongue and all the
way to the back of the throat. Sweetness
is detected on the tip of the tongue,
fruitiness and tannin, associated with
dryness, are interpreted on the middle
of the tongue and acidity is tasted on the
sides of the tongue and insides of the
cheeks. It may seem awkward, but
swishing the wine around before the ini
tial gulp actually will help one better
taste the wine.
Now that the wine has been looked
at, swirled, smelled and tasted, a
process lasting only 30 to 40 minutes, it
is ready to be paired. Bonarrigo facili
tates a wine tasting course through
University Plus where he teaches A&M
students how to properly taste and pair
wine.
“Most students already know reds
tend to be dry and whites tend to be
sweet,” Bonarrigo said. “From that
point, we teach which specific wines are
typically dry and sweet so when we give
a certain characteristic, the student
knows what it tastes like. Then we ask,
‘Okay, if you have a chardonnay in your
hand what might it go with?’ and they
can suggest lobster with cream sauce.”
The old rule was red wine with meat
and white wine with fish. Realistically,
personal preference must take prece
dence. The best suggestion is to experi
ment with a variety of recipes and wines
in an attempt to find a good match.
Exceptions to the old rule may be dis
covered, such as trying a Pinot Noir or
Cabernet Sauvignon with salmon. As a
starting point, the following chart gives
some suggested foo^ and wine matches.
Manuel Garcia, a senior industrial
distribution major, gives tours at
Messina Hof discussing the history of
the vineyard and the winemaking
process.
“Some people choose to drink red
[wine] with dark meat and white [wine]
with chicken, but I think it really
depends on the person,” Garcia said. “I
just do whatever feels right.”
There are many books and maga
zines to serve as resources for the
aspiring wine expert. For a more inter
active experience, the tours and wine
tasting sessions offered at Messina Hof
Wine Cellars are an excellent way to
get one’s feet, and palate, wet.
to 1:00 ail
>ay
*ity Dr.
2322
:ken.coni^'
TAUOlf
MSC Town Hall
is now taking applications!
Informationals
Tonight!
8:30 pm in Rudder 301
Applications are
due Sept. 7th,dude!
CHICKEN
OILC0.
• Delicious Hamburgers
• Country Salads • Big Screen TV.
• Tijuana Fries • Cold Drinks
A Place You ’ll Want to Come Back To!
Sun. - Thurs. 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Fri & Sat. 11:00 am to 11:00 pm
3600 S. College, Bryan (979) 846-3306
WILEY
LECTURE
SERIES
M emorial Student Center
What: Wiley recruiting informational
Who: anyone interested in learning about Wiley
Where: MSC 230
When: 8:30 p.m. TONIGHT (September 4)
Why: to learn more about the role of Wiley
and hear from returning members
STUDENT
COUNSELING
SERVICE
Texas A&M University
Groups for
Fall 2001
at the
Student
Counseling
Service
Part of the Division of Student Affairs
Henderson Hall
979-845-4427
www.scs.tamu.edu
Texas A&M University has a strong
institutional commitment to the princi
ple of diversity in all areas. In that spit-,
it, admission to Texas A&M University
and any of its sponsored programs is
open to all qualified individuals without
regard to any subgroup classification or
stereotype.
Empowering Yourself Group
Mondays 1:30 - 3:00 PM
A group for women and men with sexual molestation in their
past. Identifying and exploring aftereffects of abuse will be the
focus. Dealing with relationships, building self-esteem, and
gaining power are emphasized.
Facilitators: Robert Carter & Nancy Welch
Women’s Issues Group
Mondays 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Come together with other women and work on becoming the
woman you’ve always wanted to be. Improve your self-
confidence, assertiveness, and relationships by sharing and
processing with other women with similar issues.
Facilitators: Mary Ann Covey & Lori Tagger
Multicultural Issues & Relationships Group
Mondays 4:30 - 6:30 PM
The purpose of this group is to increase awareness of
multicultural issues and improve communication and self-con
fidence when dealing with multicultural relationships. Group
topics may include, but are not limited to, cultural shock; cul
tural, religious, and social differences; and bi-cultural/
multicultural relationship issues. This group is open to all stu
dents.
Facilitators: Gisela Lin & Bai-Yin Chen
Biofeedback Workshop
Mondays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
One-session workshops that give an introduction to relaxation
techniques, including how biofeedback aids in relaxation.
Individual follow-up consultation is available.
Facilitator: Steve Wilson
Conflict & Loss in Relationships Group
Mondays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
This group is for students who are currently or have previously
experienced conflict in interpersonal or romantic relationships,
or who have recently experienced a loss of a meaningful
relationship.
Facilitator: Brian Williams
Anxiety Group
Tuesday 3:00 - 4:30 PM
An interpersonal group for students who suffer from general or
social anxieties. Students will be able to work on the impact of
anxieties in their lives, as well as explore the interpersonal
meanings of anxiety symptoms.
Facilitator: Carlos Orozco
Fall 2001 Groups
Academic SURVIVAL Series
Tuesdays 3:45-5:15 PM
Need some help surviving the academic transition from high
school to college? It’s not too late to get prepared to meet the
ULTIMATE CHALLENGE...ACADEMIC SURVIVAL! Before
the “tribal council votes you off, attend this Tuesday series
from 3:45 - 5:15pm beginning October 2 and ending Novem
ber 27. Screening before September 28 is required for par
ticipation.
Facilitator: Patti Collins
Older Than Traditional Age Group
Tuesdays 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Group participants are typically 25 years old and above. Each
member is asked to demonstrate his/her commitment to the
group through regular attendance and active participation.
Group psychotherapy is utilized to assist older than traditional
group members in dealing with such issues as anxiety, de
pression, motivation, and isolation. This group works to cre
ate a safe environment in which each member is free to work
on his or her unique concerns.
Facilitators: Robert Carter & Debbie Rabinowitz
interpersonal Growth & Exploration Group
Tuesdays (Group 1) 5:00 - 6:30 PM
Wednesdays (Group 2) 3:00 - 4:30 PM
This psychotherapy group is for students who desire to
live more authentically with themselves and relate more
genuinely with others. Group members will be helped to
explore self-limiting life patterns and share themselves with
others through honest self-disclosure in a safe, supportive
atmosphere.
Facilitators: Ron Lutz & Tom Burdenski (Group 1)
Ron Lutz & Nancy Welch (Group 2)
Dissertation/Thesis Support Group
Wednesdays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
This group is for graduate students who are struggling with
the process of writing a thesis or dissertation. Group topics
include issues of competence, procrastination, anxiety,
goal-setting, and bureaucratic struggles.
Facilitators: Brian Williams & Debbie Rabinowitz
Academics Anonymous
Wednesdays 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Motivated to improve your academic performance but find it
difficult to be consistent in your efforts? Join this 9 week sup
port group on Wednesdays from 4-5:30pm beginning Sep
tember 12 and ending November 7. Not only will you learn
effective study strategies, but you will also get support from
others. Topics may include procrastination and building aca
demic confidence. Screening before September 10 is required
for participation.
Facilitator: Patti Collins
Non-Traditional Women’s Group
Wednesdays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
This therapy group for women 23+ allows each member to
enter the group with her own unique issues and share, pro
cess, and problem-solve within a group context. This group
can help individuals who are wanting to develop healthier ways
of dealing with the stress of school and work, relationships,
personal problems and family issues. When we begin to talk
more honestly with others, we can often find new ways to
deal with the problems we face.
Facilitator: Amanda Samson
Career Exploration Group
Thursdays 3:00 - 4:30 PM
This is a 6-week group beginning on October 11, 2001. It is
designed to teach participants how to make decisions. Group
participants will identify their interests, skills, work values and
personality characteristics; research the job market and
occupation. An initial appointment with a career counselor is
required.
Facilitator: Michele Amerson
Eating Concerns & Body Image Issues Group
Thursdays 3:00 - 4:30 PM
The purpose of this group is to provide information and sup
port for those who are trying to overcome an eating disorder.
Group will also discuss topics related to eating concerns such
as the development of trusting relationships, expression of
fellings, and management of stress. An individual meeting
with a group leader prior to attendance at group is required.
Facilitators: Debbie Rabinowitz & Amanda Samson