A New York company is enthusiastically exploiting the links between wine and sex – starting with a tasting at an adult toy store.
At Babeland - which is owned exclusively by women - some 60 libidinous oenophiles sipped wines with names like Seduction Cabernet and Foreplay Chardonnay, listening to erotic poetry and bid for a goodie bag filled with wine paraphernalia, as well as vibrators and other adult toys.
'Wine and sexuality have one thing in common: people indulge in both, often don't have a clue what it's about, but like to appear as though they do,' said Hollye Chanelle, event manager for Perfect Palate, the company which hosted the Erotic Wine Tasting Soiree last week. 'It is a learning experience.'
Even the tasting notes struck an educational note. 'It's important to first titillate the senses with a little Foreplay - for your palate, that is,' the note accompanying the Chardonnay said.
Guests were 'a cornucopia of people ranging in age, race, sexual orientation, culture and wine experience, from novice to experienced connoisseur,' Chanelle told decanter.com.
'The novice feels welcomed by the trendy atmosphere and the down-to-earth demeanour of our Sexy Sommeliers,' she went on, 'and seasoned oenophiles are intrigued by the unique angles by which we analyse, decipher and present our wines.'
As well as its standard sex-education sessions, Babeland runs other wine events, including 'bachelorette' wine tasting parties, and a ladies-only 'kinky wine tasting party,' where participants 'learn how to perform a striptease, lap dance, and walk with a new sexy strut like the pros from the pros,' while enjoying a selection of red, white and sparkling wines.
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I am shocked, shocked, that pristine New Yorkers have been cynically dragged through the mud by adventurers, probably from Los Angeles, who have exploited wine for sex purposes.
Our city has always been a crossroads of God-fearing folk, and, as our tabloids attest every day, wine-drinking and sex take place only when the French are in town. Otherwise we spend our time in libraries.
I myself was surprised to learn that vibrators were used for something other than mixing gin-and-tonics.
I hope the authorities crack down on Babeland for violating the precepts that have made this city, especially 42d Street, the Voice of Deliverance. Otherwise it won't be safe to go outside.
Also, I wish your reporting had been more thorough. Was the Foreplay chardonnay that was poured oaked or unoaked?
Howard G. Goldberg, New York City, USA
Sad to report the Chardonnay was un-wooded.
Jolie Wiggins
The Foreplay Chardonnay would have been sporting a lot of wood. (It was barrel fermented.)
Jole Erik, Napa, CA, USA
To answer Howard Goldberg's question regarding the chardonnay, I believe it had seen some wood.
Bill Adams
Thank-you Panos for this stimulating story.It has added enormously to my wine knowledge. A colleague who read the same story, commented that the contribution may have been of more interest to the readers of Mud Wrestling magazine.I think he may be right.
Michael H Prendergast, Western Australia
Why are people so cynical about wine! I think we should tahnk the people that have roganised the erotic evening in as much as they have helped to introduce wine to a segment we wine "boffins" have not targeted. Wine is no exclusive drink, limited to the few..it is as these people say erotic..watch bacchus and his entourage..sip and drink the friut of the vine!
I suppose NY was lucky enough to host the first "declared" erotic/wine evening..pity we in Malta are too small to organize something like that!
As for the Chardonnay, having been barrel fermented (and so I suppose) new french barriques were used, it should not have been woody but very elegant with loads of friut..that is what we get here from barrel fermented Chards. Victor Bonello, Malta.
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I am shocked, shocked, that pristine New Yorkers have been cynically dragged through the mud by adventurers, probably from Los Angeles, who have exploited wine for sex purposes.
