Notice: Did you know you can get an instant definition of any word on this page, just by double-clicking on it?

Try it now! Double-click any word on page to see the definition!

Views #92 | Mid Intermediate 5

Wine

Sandra is a wine columnist. She gives tips about choosing a wine.
Views Listening Lesson

Todd: Now, Sandra, hello!

Sandra: Hello!

Todd: Now, you are a wine connoisseur. Or wine teacher. No!

Sandra: Not really!

Todd: Not really?

Sandra: A wine connoisseur. No, that's sort of a snobby.

Todd: Oh, really?

Sandra: Yes.

Todd: Oh, OK. So, how would you describe what you do?

Sandra: A wine professional.

Todd: A wine professional. OK, so what does a wine professional do?

Sandra: Try to make money from wine.

Todd: OK.

Sandra: So, I'm a wine writer, a wine columnist. I teach wine.

Todd: OK, so let's say if I'm going to have friends over, and I'm making let's say steak. I'm having a grilling steak. Can I serve wine with steak?

Sandra: Yes. Steak goes with almost any red wine.

Todd: Oh, really. OK. So, red. How about if I want to mix wines. Is it OK to go red wine, white wine?

Sandra: You always start out with white wines going towards red wines.

Todd: OK, always go white wine first, then the red wine. (Yes) OK, and how about for dessert. Is there a special dessert wine?

Sandra: There are many great dessert wines, so it depends on what you like, how sweet you like and what you're making for dessert.

Todd: OK, so how about I'm making terimisu.

Sandra: Terimisu, then I would probably have a tawny port, either from Portugal or from Australia, which makes great ports, or you might even go for a fruity and oaky zinfandel, which is dry wine from California.

Todd: OK, nice. How much will that cost me?

Sandra: Depends on how much you want to spend. For a port, a tawny port, anywhere in between 3,500 to 10,000 (OK) And for a California Zinfandel, a good one probably about 3,000 (yen).

Todd: 3,000. I think I can maybe afford that. Not much. And, how about what would be a good wine to start off for like appetizers or with a salad or something like that.

Sandra: I always start off with a sparkling wine.

Todd: A sparkling wine.

Sandra: Yes. I prefer champagne but if you can't afford it, even though champagne is the lowest price anywhere in the world is in Japan

Todd: Oh, really.

Sandra: And many of my students load up on cases of champagne and have it sent home by their companies container.

Todd: Oh, wow.

Sandra: Yes. But champagne is a good starter.

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

wine connoisseur

Are you a wine connoisseur or a wine teacher?

A 'connoisseur' is an expert about something, usually having to do with food, drink or art.  Notice the following:

  1. Traveling has turned me into quite a connoisseur of different types of food.
  2. I think of myself as a coffee connoisseur.

snobby

I'm not a wine connoisseur; that's sort of snobby.

If a person is 'snobby' they act like they are too good for average or normal things.  A person can be snobby towards other people or about certain things like clothes or food. Notice the following:

  1. My friend can be kind of snobby, but I promise she's a good person.
  2. She is very snobby about the food she eats.

make money

I try to make money from wine.

When you receive money for doing or selling something you are 'making money' from that. Notice the following:

  1. His company makes a lot of money selling plastic products.
  2. Can you really make money selling wine?

goes with

Steak goes with almost any red wine.

If a wine 'goes with' a food it complements or enhances the flavor of that food. They taste good together. Notice the following:

  1. I need a wine to go with the seafood I'm making.
  2. What goes well with this soup?

start off

I always start off with a sparkling wine.

If you 'start off' with something you have it or do it at the beginning. Notice the following:

  1. He always starts off his day with a cup of coffee.
  2. We will both start off with a bowl of soup.

Vocabulary Quiz

connoisseur • snobby • make money
go with • start off
  1. He is always thinking of new ways to .
  2. He loves to eat and is a of exotic foods.
  3. I've brought you some bread to your meal.
  4. She grew up in a poor family and isn't at all.
  5. Desserts coffee or espresso.
Answer the following questions about the interview.

Bình luận (0)

Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Learning English Everyday