Saturday 28 July 2012

This Business Called Wine...

"Wait a minute", I hear you say.  "Is she really here writing a blog?  And where are the photos?" I've been writing several posts in my mind, but unfortunately, I've been unable to get them on paper...until now.  I'm on vacation.  Yes, a break from not one, but two jobs,  a few family stressors and school. Next week I don't have class, so I've used this window of opportunity to get away with my husband and kids.  

Today I want to tell you something serious.  When I tell folks what I'm studying in school, I often get laughed at.  They wonder how tasting wine can possibly be serious...or, how can tasting a particular wine be a learning experience?  When most people have a glass of wine, do they think about much more than what the colour is in their glass, or whether or not they may be getting a slight buzz?  For the majority, I doubt it. This business of wine is much more difficult and more complicated than one might think.

But how many of you know what the difference is between a Chardonnay from Chablis versus a Chardonnay from Cote de Beaune?  Did you know that they are both from the region of Burgundy?  Did you know that one District uses oak, but the other doesn't?  What about Beaujolias?  Does anyone know what that means when you are drinking that?  How about a Sancerre, or a Chateaux Margaux....how about a Chateaux Petrus or a Romanee-Conti?  Anyone, anyone?

There's this business of types of soils, grape varietals, appelations, wine laws, wine styles, levels of sweetness or dryness, levels of acidity and tannin, fortified wines, Ripasso and Amarone, Left Bank and Right Bank, Pouilly Fume vs. Pouilly-Fuisse, Qualitatswein, Spatlese, Auslese, Kabinett...I could keep going, but I don't want to overwhelm you.

Yes, overwhelming.  Didn't think it possible did you? Well, if YOU think it's overwhelming, this is what I feel on an almost weekly basis, as more knowledge gets added to the bank that is already overflowing.

But, I'm here to tell you that I won't give up.  I will continue to learn and understand this business called wine.  Mostly for myself, and a potential career change, but also for you.  I hope I can continue to pass along what I've learned to you. My motto of "drink what you like", has not changed.  My goal is to just continue to make suggestions...I wouldn't want you to purchase a wine you don't like :)