Virginia Myers, owner of Tenaya Wines, explains how wine doesn’t have to be complicated – from what ‘low intervention’ actually means to why trusting your own taste matters more than getting the terminology right.
For someone who finds wine culture a bit intimidating, how would you describe the Tenaya experience?
As you walk in, Tenaya doesn’t feel like a traditional wine shop – it’s a relaxed and welcoming place where there is always someone friendly to help you find something you’ll love, even if you don’t know where to begin. Wines range from £9 upwards. You can enjoy browsing the descriptive wine labels, which we update regularly, or tuck into a cosy corner and enjoy a peaceful moment with a glass of wine or a tasting flight.
You describe many of your wines as ‘low intervention’, which is a bit of buzz word in the industry these days. But what does it actually mean?
‘Low intervention’ is a term used to describe wine that has been very carefully made in both the vineyard and the winery, where as little as possible is added. For example, only minimal sulphur is used to stabilise the wine. Many supermarket wines are made by large companies where flavourings and sugar syrups are added, and the wine is adjusted to maintain a consistent taste at a low price point year on year, despite changes in the weather. It’s a way to describe wine made with intention and respect for the environment the grapes have been grown in. Ultimately, it’s well-made wine produced with a great deal of care.
If someone says ‘I don’t know anything about tasting notes’, where should they start?
You don’t need to know anything about tasting notes – that’s our job. We’re here to help you find delicious wine to suit you without any particular lingo. We’ll talk through the kinds of flavours you’ve enjoyed in the past (which might involve a few samples), and from there we can explore wines that might suit you and help you discover new favourites. As we serve wine by the glass, there are always bottles open that can help us figure it out together.
So what should people be paying attention to when they take a sip?
Really, all you need to think about is whether or not you like it. Taste is subjective – we all enjoy different things – and unless you’re looking to study wine in depth, it’s simply about enjoying what you’re drinking. If there’s something you don’t like, let us know and we can help you find something that suits you better next time.
What would you say to someone who worries about ‘getting wine wrong’?
There isn’t really a ‘wrong’ in wine. If you find something you like, that’s what matters most. Choosing wine for other people can feel more daunting, but we’re here to help you find the right bottle for any occasion.
If someone wants to broaden their palate, what’s the simplest way to start exploring wine a bit more?
It starts with a conversation and some tasting. We offer a tasting flight, inspired by wineries in California, where this is a common way to explore a range of wines in smaller quantities. It’s a fun way to experience a broad spectrum of flavours and to help narrow down what you enjoy most. From there, we can guide you towards wines with similar qualities. Our by-the-glass menu changes weekly, so there’s always something new to discover. If you’re visiting just to shop, you can always ask for a taste of something on the by-the-glass board. Once you have a few reference points, it becomes easier to explore wines that suit your palate.
