But, now what? Do I really write a BLOG about my ‘musings’ in the wine world? No. I am not going to leave my glass of wine every evening to go write a few sentences about what I thought about it and whether or not it was a good pairing with my scrambled tofu. Wine has been written about to death.
Ahhhh, especially at this joyous time of year.....
How many times can you hear about which wine goes best with Turkey? And if you really don’t know that the answer is: Whatever wine you love best! then you can always google it. You do not need to subscribe to eight different wine magazines to find a good suggestion. When I was asked to write an article about wine for the Holidays, I cringed. I ended up writing about Winemakers that I am thankful for. It was a beautiful tribute to those who simply make my life better by making incredible wine.
The rant continues on what I don’t like:
-Review after review after review of how much cherry-berry, toasted-tobacco, buttery-vanilla is in a wine. Yes, it is helpful to know certain qualities about a wine to make sure it suits your preference. For example, noting if a wine is oaky and rich(big-bodied) or is it fruity & crisp(light-bodied). But the length (no pun intended) wine reviewers go to......seamless tiers of creamy coffee? really?!? So, if you are told about this ahead of time, are you obliged to partake in casual conversation about how the wine likens your favorite morning beverage? Sometimes I think a reviewer’s description has turned off a consumer. “No, I don’t like peaches.” Yet, they end up sharing that they love a California (warm climate, therefore resulting in super ripe) Sauvignon Blanc. (Hint to the irony: They love peach flavors in a wine!)
What I DO like: I am not here just to complain!
-I LOVE it when people (average consumers) ask questions and get honest answers. Wine Spectator’s Dear Dr. Vinny is just fabulous. If you are afraid to ask a question in person, you can create a name (isn’t the name of the street you grew up on suggested?) and ask virtually. (Note: Please do not ever be afraid to ask ME in person. I LOVE questions!)
-Hard News. It is important to know that a hail storm has damaged the grapes of a region. It is important to know if a winery is sold/acquired by another. It is important to know if a Winemaker started his/her own new winery. Comparing verticals of a collector’s wine was surely fun for those drinking it! Not so fun reading about it.
I write because I LOVE wine and I LOVE to educate. I can only hope you'll pick up a point or two. I believe in an interactive process to learning about wine. You can read all you want. You can take courses, read textbooks, read every article and/or blog in existence. However, you are not going to truly learn about wine unless you experience it first-hand and simply enjoy it for what it is. Some liquid in your glass intended to give you pleasure!
