I notice a familiar fog settling in my brain this morning. A sign I had one too many the night before. I’m not hung over but traces of Italian wine still linger somewhere in the holes and crevices of my cranium.

I’m sure many guests of Bar@494 felt similar today. That’s what a pleasant night of delightful wines, delicious food and good company can do; and at the Grand Hyatt Erawan they know how to throw a proper wine tasting.

Bar@494 has been organizing wine tastings monthly for about one year now.

The formula is always the same: a celebrated producer brings a selection of good bottles and the Grand Hyatt Erawan provides, food, service and atmosphere.

Last night, Wine And About was invited to taste wines from one of Italy’s iconic producers. Masi, known for their expertise in the appassimento technique, a technique where grapes are partially dried before being processed, provided two whites and two reds.

I started with an aromatic white called Levarìe. It’s one of the classics of the great Veronese winemaking tradition. The wine is made from the traditional grapes of the Soave Classico region, Garganega and Trebbiano. It has an intense nose with distinctive pear aromas with citrus fruit and pineapple on the palate.

The second white served was a fresh and aromatic Pinot Grigio called Masianco.

Created using the appassimento technique, normally reserved for red wines, this wine is a super Venetian with great style. A sniff reveals citrus fruit, white flowers and honey while its palate is lemons, peach and apricot fruitiness with attractive hints of honey.

On to the reds. The sommelier recommended to start with a Valpolicella Classico called Bonacosta. A light, dry, red wine made from a blend using traditional Veronese grapes: Covina, Rondinella and Molinara. It has an intense bouquet with ripe cherry aromas. Cherries are its dominant flavor with an aftertaste of vanilla.

The second red was a beautifully balanced amarone called Costasera. For an amarone, the Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes are laid out on bamboo racks to concentrate their aromas during the winter months. This results in a very dark, ruby red wine with a bouquet of baked fruit, plums and cherries. The palate is quite rich as well with fruity tastes and hints of coffee and cocoa.

As mentioned earlier, Bar@494 tries to organize wine tastings monthly. They are quite particular in their selection process and try to have representatives from the selected producer present during the event. The event includes a buffet and free flow wine and is priced at THB 899++. Apart from wine tastings the bar is open daily from 3 pm till 12 am and has a wine buffet promotion every day from 7 pm till 9 pm at THB 799++ as well as a buy one get one happy hour from 5 pm till 7 pm.

If you’re looking for quality in drinks, service and atmosphere you should give Bar@494 a try.