Dennis, the god of wine

I’ve already gushed about how cheese and wine make great friends; even better, then, is learning how to appreciate good wine while you’re glugging it down with specially-chosen cheese.

This is exactly what I did, thanks to another Time Out offer.

Dionysius Importers are named after the Greek god of wine, Dionysus. Or, as I like to call him — Dennis. Italian wine specialists, they select vineyards based on their quality, resulting in a highly respectable selection. 

My friend Matt accompanied me on this cheese and wine odyssey, which took place in an unassuming hotel basement in Paddington where long tables were laid out in the style of children's birthday parties. Handily, we all knew where to sit as Dionysius had printed our names on the table mats.

Inspecting the seating

Our authentic Italian hosts then proceeded to show us how to drink wine. Properly that is. We were instructed to hold the red wine against a white napkin; if the edge of the wine was as dark as the middle and the same colour throughout the glass, then it’s full-bodied.

We were also told to slosh the wine around the glass before sticking our noses in for a whiff. Next, to sip and hold it in our mouths underneath the tongue, while opening and closing aforementioned mouth to let in some air. Talk about multi-tasking! We all giggled as our host waggled his finger to demonstrate.

I was also surprised to learn that if you can still taste the wine eight seconds after swallowing, then it’s a good ‘un.

All of this happened, naturally, in conjunction with cheese nibbling. Five wines, five complementary cheeses. As the names of these cheeses were long and Italian, alas my untrained English ears didn't catch all of them. 

Wine friends: assorted Italian cheeses

For me, the highlight was Bra Tenero, cut into cubes; this reminded me of an upmarket Cheese String with its elastic texture, delizioso! 

Bra Tenero

Another highlight was a smokey number — the circular cheese in the picture just below the Bra Tenero. Soft and chewy, Matt said it tasted like the moon, which I like to think it did, albeit with a hint of Pepperoni.

Finally, we were given another serving of our favourite wine of the night. My personal favourite was Malvasia Secca, a sparkling, soft-flavoured white wine we tried at the beginning of the tasting; apparently an excellent choice for cold meat starters.

Perhaps you already know how to drink wine, in which case I'm very happy for you. Nonetheless, I’d like to raise a toast to Dionysius Importers, who do a fine job introducing guests to high-quality Italian cheese and first-rate wine. Chin chin!

Wet your whistle

Alcohol is a typical symptom of the holiday season as we accelerate towards yet another year; and while I usually just talk about cheese, it makes sense to tip my hat to its oft-quaffed companion.

Thanks to a Time Out special offer, Stuart and I headed to Pall Mall Fine Wines, which is hidden within the chic Royal Opera Arcade, the oldest shopping arcade in the world. Once you duck into this elegant, quiet passage, it’s easy to forget you are minutes away from the hectic hubbub of Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus.

Pall Mall Fine Wines offer just that: a range of quality wines, from both well established and less common regions, all selected by the knowledgeable and accommodating staff. Not only can you purchase supreme wines there, the shop also offers a buying service so that you can sell your own collections. And, they’ll organise wine tastings for special occasions.

But enough about the wine already. What about the cheese? I’d cycled straight from work across town and my appetite was akin to a starved bear (I recently saw the film Paddington, which is wonderful by the way). So you can surely understand why I basically inhaled (more than my fair share of) our all-Italian Charcuterie & Cheese platter. For a few fleeting seconds though, I appreciated every morsel.

We gorged on Cacio Nero Di Pienza, a moreish crumbly white Pecorino; Pecorino Vinaiolo, matured for two months with a bitter skin; and Asiago, a gorgeous semi hard cheese. The selection of chorizo and salamis were a sumptuous treat too. 

Camillo De Lellis from Molise, Italy was a subtle fruity match for the salty meal.

If you fancy exploring a calm, sophisticated wine cave in a historic shopping arcade you didn’t know existed, Pall Mall Fine Wines is for you. Word of advice: For an optimal tasting experience, I’d recommend not being completely famished before you get there.