Latest features Wine Olympics 2008

Date Published:

18/08/2008

The excitement has reached fever pitch as you join us for the Wine Olympics 2008. There are 12 different wines from 12 different countries, each with the dream of winning gold and becoming the 'Best wine to accompany a Chinese meal'

As the competitors line up for the opening ceremony - each proudly sporting their national head-dress - it gives the assembled 4Food judges the chance to examine the contestants. The wines will be sampled blind to ensure the Olympic spirit prevails. Can the wildcard from Moldova - whose flamboyant label was clearly a hit in the locker room - impress the judges more than the all-star American contender? Does the bookies' favourite from France possess the quality to see off the Australian challenger? All is about to be revealed.

Feeling Hungary?

Only six competitors will make it through the heats to the final. First out of the traps it's the Hungarian, who gets the games off to a great start. Although not aware of its origins, the judges are clearly swayed by its drinkability and staying power.

• Meet the contenders

Fruits of the vine

Next up, the Spanish contender puts in a solid performance; one judge believes they could quaff this all night without too many ill effects in the morning - surely a credit to the Spanish coaching staff.

Now the Austrian gets a chance to strut its stuff on the Olympic stage. But, oh dear! A rotten performance leaves some sour looks on the judges' faces and one even feels the need to pour their taster away. Goodnight Vienna.

Argentina are the next to throw their hat into the ring and while one judge feels it's a headache-inducing display, it looks like they've got their tactics just about right.

Pouring the pot pourri

The French entry swaggers into the arena with the confidence of a heavyweight boxer who's just discovered his next opponent is a dwarf. But according to one judge: "It smells like a National Trust shop." No-one said that about Daley Thompson; will it help the French cause?

Australia receives a good reception from the crowd, and the judges concur, although one is concerned that "you couldn't drink it warm with a kebab".

Team America

There's plenty of "USA! USA!" chanting as America enters the fray, but it's a surprisingly lightweight performance from the yanks.

Buy, buy this American wine

And the judges are not bowled over by Moldova - more wine gets poured away than actually drunk.

Chile makes a very bad first impression. What's that smell - is it nandrolone? THG? Well, no - apparently it's cat pee. The judges agree the stuff tastes like cheap student plonk.

While the South African entry receives a very lukewarm response, the UK wine goes down well. Our plucky boys have done us proud with a drop you could keep guzzling all night.

Finally, it's the Chinese offering. The host nation may be technically faultless at throwing together a chicken chow mein, but can they produce a wine to match? One judge triumphantly slurs: "It tastes like nothing!" but as the scores come in, apparently that's a good thing.

Can't stand the heats?

Hungary, Spain, Argentina, Australia, the UK and China can look forward to the final after some surperb first-round performances. Meanwhile, it's an early bath for France, USA, South Africa and Chile who join Moldova and Austria on the plane home, or more likely, in the bin.


See who's going for gold in the final