Eureka! Appreciation for good wine... or not
An anti wine snob in wine country
A couple of years back, my friends convinced me to go to Tuscany where we spent more time than I care to admit sipping endless samples. They identified the smoky apple tastes and the hazelnut aromas and spoke of "finesse" and "layering." My taste buds got no further than "like" or "don't like."
We loaded the trunk of our car with bottles from every winery and back at our fattoria, I discovered that everything goes well with pasta if you drink enough of it.
I have relatives who are trying to work with me. They are convinced that there is still hope, that I may somehow have one of those "Eureka!" moments when they will pour a wine into the proper Riedel glass and I'll exclaim, "By George, I think I've got it!"
A couple of years back, my friends convinced me to go to Tuscany where we spent more time than I care to admit sipping endless samples. They identified the smoky apple tastes and the hazelnut aromas and spoke of "finesse" and "layering." My taste buds got no further than "like" or "don't like."
We loaded the trunk of our car with bottles from every winery and back at our fattoria, I discovered that everything goes well with pasta if you drink enough of it.
I have relatives who are trying to work with me. They are convinced that there is still hope, that I may somehow have one of those "Eureka!" moments when they will pour a wine into the proper Riedel glass and I'll exclaim, "By George, I think I've got it!"
A glass act: Whining about wine glasses
I did make some progress, agreeing that my wine tasted slightly different when sipped from the glass they had selected. They got excited and asked me what I could taste. "Grapefruit?" I asked hopefully. They exchanged a glance. I'm like the kid who needs remedial classes.
Maybe that's the answer. Wine Tasting 101.
Cheers to wine-ignorant folks like me!
Or maybe not. I read recently that the mark-up on wines in restaurants is often as much as 300 per cent! If I start learning enough about wine then I may recognize that the $80 bottle I am sharing by candlelight in a romantic bistro is the same $15 swill that I serve my guests at home. There is some benefit to being wine ignorant.
Mi Homer es su Homer
So forgive me if I continue to look for Air Mile specials at the liquor store. I extend my heartiest apologies to anyone who comes to my place for dinner hoping for a good wine.
On the upside, if you bring your own bottle I won't charge a corking fee. I'll just lend you Homer.
If you're not a wine snob but still want to learn a little more about your vino, start with the basic 10 things you need to know about wine.
Page 2 of 2
I did make some progress, agreeing that my wine tasted slightly different when sipped from the glass they had selected. They got excited and asked me what I could taste. "Grapefruit?" I asked hopefully. They exchanged a glance. I'm like the kid who needs remedial classes.
Maybe that's the answer. Wine Tasting 101.
Cheers to wine-ignorant folks like me!
Or maybe not. I read recently that the mark-up on wines in restaurants is often as much as 300 per cent! If I start learning enough about wine then I may recognize that the $80 bottle I am sharing by candlelight in a romantic bistro is the same $15 swill that I serve my guests at home. There is some benefit to being wine ignorant.
Mi Homer es su Homer
So forgive me if I continue to look for Air Mile specials at the liquor store. I extend my heartiest apologies to anyone who comes to my place for dinner hoping for a good wine.
On the upside, if you bring your own bottle I won't charge a corking fee. I'll just lend you Homer.
If you're not a wine snob but still want to learn a little more about your vino, start with the basic 10 things you need to know about wine.
Page 2 of 2
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