Writing about wine is as enjoyable as tasting and drinking wine. At the same time, however, one sometimes feels that this is simply not enough. It feels like being in a playground for adults where we are allowed on the climbing frames but the swings are taken by the big ones. Am I not being clear? Let me explain what I mean. Many philosophers (Béla Hamvas may be the best example) have described that the best part of wine-tasting is the talking: when we analyze and taste the wine, when we compare our experiences. The whole thing is simply a free association game. Like once, when I was in Lyon and the quintet on the stage received the same wine as us, the audience. We all tasted it then they talked about it, and finally played (!) what they were thinking and feeling. Isn’t it wonderful?
Well, Rudino Art Show, the love child of Rudino Bér artist and painter is a similar initiative with the slight difference that wine attends rather than stars these talks. The star of these shows is art, any of its constituents separately or together; when an actor reads out passages of the latest Dante translation introduced by a well-known linguist professor, while a winery is also present with its wines that the audience may taste and sip. Or when an actress and a band perform Shakespeare together. All this in the downtown of Budapest, in an artist’s studio with the painter and his father’s (who was also a well-known artist) paintings hanging on the walls. Obviously, food is also offered; there is a strong Italian connection, so the menu often contains pasta – last time it was salmon and salad – thanks to Kata Angyalosy who operates a pop-up restaurant in the city.
It is an exclusive club that you may join only by invitation, but after the last event there are not many things in the world that I want more than to be invited to the next event to be held on 3 March. The theme is Cupid and Psyche which is a really complex and inspiring topic in its own right. This time Rudino Bér invited the popular singer Eszter Váczi and the Quartet, the Feledi Project (contemporary ballet), Zsolt Zólyomi perfumer and Márk Lelkes sculptor. The wine will be provided by Dubicz Winery from the Mátra region and the TG Italiano restaurant will take care of the food.
The winery was already present at the previous event, as well. They brought their wines, too and we started a little game trying to find the painting which best matches a given wine. We came to the following conclusions (this is not the complete list, let me just take two examples):
Dubicz - Irsai Olivér 2015 I 83-84 points
Nice flowers and citrus on the nose. Light body, round acidity, apple, peach on the palate, salty finish.
We selected Rudino Bér’s painting entitled Walter Steiger for the wine mostly because the background is so similar to a set, and this reminded us of the similar type of notes and characteristics of Irsai Olivér.
Dubicz - Pinot Gris 2015 I 85-87 points
Fresh and crispy with citrus and tropical fruits. Easy to drink and very likeable.
It was evident that a picture of water or a waterside scene must be found, that is how we chose ‘At the Shore’ painted by the artist’s father, Rudolf Bér (1924-2004).
As a final though, let us quote the host, Rudolf Bér who characterized his event as follows:
I would like to create something that even Fellini would gladly join more than once in one night. An intellectually infinitely open but exclusive place.
How to get in? Write an email to rudino@rudino.net and start begging. Or be really witty and educated. Or be an art collector … :)
Address: Budapest. Whoever gets invited will get the exact address in an email, anyway.
