IS WATER LIKE WINE?
Water is important for us all but are there people who understand more about it than us others? Is there more to water than merely H2O? Lauri Vainio Sommelier of the Year 2007 in Finland talks to water connoisseur Michael Mascha about bottled waters. Let the taste buddies do the talking.
Lauri Vainio: You published a book about bottled waters in 2006. I have read a lot of different books about wine, but never one that would have been so close in describing the differences between bottled waters. What is it you want to tell people about water that they are not yet familiar with?
Michael Mascha: Water is the next wine. It deserves intelligent attention and it is not a commodity but a product with a unique source, terroir and special characteristics. This is not a quest for the “best water” but rather an epicurean exploration into the differences and how those differences can be used to enhance the dining experience.
LV: It's an interesting conversation revolving around bottled waters. I like your website finewaters.com. What is your initial purpose for running the site? I presume that people from all around the world come there to get the latest trends and ideas?
MM: Raising the awareness of bottled water and differentiating high end bottled water from the purified tap water that is also sold in bottles. FineWaters is also instrumental in setting the bottled water etiquette with suggestions on drinking temperature, stemware, food pairings and so on.
LV: I understand that you are an anthropologist. Did your interest primarily start from the academic point of view and then end up educating us all in fine bottled waters? What kind of markets are there in the US for bottled water today?
MM: I interest in bottled water started when I had to stop drinking wine for a health reasons. The void created by not being able to drink wine allowed me to focus on the other bottle on the table – bottled water. In the US bottled water is part of the new age beverages and this sector is rapidly growing. Within that sector bottled water is the fastest growing sector and high end bottled water is the leader in the bottled water category. We are in the early phases of a very strong new trend, especially as the baby boomers are aging.
LV: I am proud to welcome you to Finland and Hotel Klaus K in August to have a seminar talk on bottled waters. Then you'll be able to get to know our culture beyond water issues as well. We always love hearing how visitors find our country. Its excellence as well as oddities.
MM: The UN report on drinking water has done a lot to raise the awareness of bottled water from Finland and the general perception of clean unspoiled landscape is a definite plus for the branding of Finish products.
LV: I think we'll challenge our top chefs as well to think food from the water point of view. And then together we'll match their masterpieces with all different waters. I think our audience is going to love that. It's something that hasn't been done before.
MM: That would be a first, but I am looking forward to it. Designing a meal around the water should be a very interesting concept.
LV: Looking forward to see you. The first one is on me.
VEEN Talk interviews highlighting the connoisseurs of water. Talk the talk, walk the walk.
