One of my favorite things to come out of the rise and proliferation of social media is the online or synchronized tasting. Whether it’s for wine, beer or spirits, online tastings have become one of the best ways to share the same bottle and informative experience with hundreds or even thousands of people simultaneously all over the world. Through the use of networking sites like Facebook and Twitter as well as personal blogs and organizational sites, people can share comments and opinions about a beverage and learn from participating representatives or producers all from the comfort of their home. Aside from being there one on one with the respective producer, what could be better than that?

And for the “sponsoring” producer, region or organization, what could be better than spreading the word on your product to all those people simultaneously, engaging them in conversation, soliciting their opinions and offering up additional information when required. Strong word of mouth is undeniably influential, especially when it comes to shopping and trying brands outside the mainstream. Especially when it comes to wine recommendations.

So, to kick off the summer, I decided to participate in a synchronized worldwide tasting organized by the folks at Sud de France in celebration of their 4th anniversary. Sud de France is a wonderful concept, acting as an umbrella brand for wine and food products from Languedoc-Roussillon. With over 30 appellations and 60 Vin de Pays situated within the region, there is obviously more than they could ever show with just one online tasting. However, the concept for this event was simply to offer an idea as to the breadth and diversity of the wines the region has to offer. As a fan of the region and the reviewer of the wines for the magazine, I couldn’t have been happier to participate and help spread the word about the bountiful offerings of the region.

Here were my impressions of the five wines selected for the synchronized tasting.

Sieur d’Arques NV Grande Cuvée 1531 Brut (Crémant de Limoux); $16, 12%.
Extremely pale yellow in color with delicate, fine bubble carbonation dancing up through the middle of the glass. The nose offers soft citrus (like pink grapefruit rind) alongside notes of Granny Smith apple and hints of yeast and yellow florals. The mouth is creamy and full with well-balanced acidity and a brisk lemony citrus character leading through to the clean finish. At about $16, this is an excellent value sparkler for brunch or casual bubbly with friends.

Gérard Bertrand 2008 Cigalus (Vin de Pays d’Oc); $30, 13.5%.
Composed of 75% Chardonnay, 20% Viognier, 5% Sauvignon Blanc, this is a beautiful wine from former rugby player turned rockstar vigneron Gérard Bertrand. The nose screams of Chardonnay goodness, with aromas of wood-grilled red apples, peach pit and butter-toasted almonds. After you get over that, the other components of the blend start to come in (the Viognier and Sauv Blanc) to liven things up with nuanced white floral notes (reminiscent to me of gardenia) and a suggestion of tropical acidity. Medium-light weight with full ripe apple and orange oil flavors, and toast coming through strong on the finish. Well-balanced and very enjoyable, this is a complex and very food-friendly wine that offers a higher-end VdP experience than I’m sure most people (unfortunately) haven’t yet had.

Vignerons Catalans NV Fruité Catalan Rosé (Côtes du Roussillon); $12, 13%.
Deep color for a rosé, like a true strawberry. The assertive bouquet offers plenty of small red berries and suggestions of strawberries and cream. It has a touch of sweetness to it, as though there was some simple syrup mixed in there with all those berries. The mouth is light and fresh with a ton of red cherry flavors and a hint of sweet spice in the background. Balanced and fruit-forward for sure, this rosé would be a great choice for the upcoming hot summer days to pair with lighter fare such as grilled chicken salad.

Domaine Dromadaire 30670 2006 Vin de Pays d’Oc; $12, 13%.
Wow… this pours impressively: opaque and almost black in color, like really dark prune juice. The nose is loaded with black fruit, including cherry, plum and berry, supported by some black olive and pepper flecks in the background. Moderately tannic and austere with a firm structure and more of that dark black fruit holding it all together. Leather, licorice and a touch of oak in the form of ground cocoa nibs appear on the finish. Balanced and big with plenty of fruit and spice for lovers of both. A superb value, indeed.

Mas de Madame 2006 Muscat de Frontignan; $17, 15.5%.
This wine is immediately attractive in the glass, with that nice, very typical nose of musky sweetness. Lovely aromas of mushy peach, honeysuckle and orange marmalade citrus are all very enticing, luring you in to a promisingly sweet experience. The mouth is a touch viscous and weighty, but the acidity livens up the ripe, lingering honeyed flavors. Apricot pit and dried orange rind drizzled with clover honey round out the finish. Well balanced, clean and easy to drink. A lovely choice for dessert, but just give me a nice chunk of blue cheese to go with it and I’m as happy as could be.

All in all, I think Sud de France did an excellent job of showing off the diverse selections the region has to offer. Even if they were all not my personal preference (though they did a darn good job nailing almost all five as such), the experience certainly showed some folks that there’s more to the region than what you might have tasted before, and with a little knowledge and adventure you can find some superb wines at excellent values.

To see what other people thought about the tasting, use the Twitter hashtag #SudDeFrance or #WorldTastingSync or check out the event’s website here and check out articles and comments on the tasting here.

What do you think about synchronized online tastings? Do you find them fun and informative like me, or would you rather just taste alone? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the subject!