Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers blog

 Not so long ago, we were celebrating English Wine Week on Answers, with Matt Skinner asking “How can we encourage people to give English wine a chance?” Well, whether it’s English or not, we know one user who doesn’t need to be told twice about the qualities of wine. That’s why this week we’re raising our glasses to Edward Mainwaring-Burton, who, like Matt Skinner, is a professional sommelier and has impressed us all with his expertise in the Beers, Wines & Spirits category.

By being interested in and working in the catering industry since the age of 14, our featured user has managed to delve deep enough into the drinking world to ensure that no wine question is too difficult for him to face. Whether an answerer has been looking for the best wine from 1982, or the best winery to visit in France, our drinks guru has pointed them in the right direction.

Knowing which wine, champagne or beer to drink is one thing, but understanding their terminology is something not everyone pays attention to. One user was wondering what ‘SSS Malt distilling’ referred to, and as expected, our pro knew.

One of the most important aspects of wine drinking is understanding when a wine has matured and is just right to consume. Edward Mainwaring-Burton cleared this up for a user wondering about the perfect age. Similarly, Danski wasn’t sure exactly when a wine can be called ‘vintage’. Our wine master replied with a simple answer saying that a bottle marked ‘vintage’ denotes that “at least 85% of the juice fermented to produce that bottle was from grapes harvested in that particular year.”

As all wine-buffs will know, there is even an art to opening and pouring a bottle of champagne. Edward Mainwaring-Burton has definitely mastered this art as he explains: “a good sommelier should be able to pour a magnum (double-bottle) with one hand, holding the bottle at the base. For the slightly larger formats, one is allowed to use the second hand to stabilise and support the bottle…”

If Edward Mainwaring-Burton’s selection of answers hasn’t quenched your thirst, you may want to check out Pontac’s contribution to answers. He is another user who truly knows his rose from his reserve.

When speaking of his career, Edward Mainwaring-Burton says “I see myself as the modern answer to the traditional view of the sommelier as a snooty, snobby wine-buff. I like to try to bring this ‘old-fashioned’ skill and knowledge to young people through my approach and attitude.” Answering questions is surely one more way to bring out and share your skill. Thank you for all your input to Answers Edward Mainwaring-Burton, and congratulations on being this week’s featured user.

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team