Everything must start somewhere - let's start with the basics. We're covering everything from the seed to the sip so you can better appreciate wine.The history of wine is rich and intriguing, no doubt. Over centuries, regions have perfected the artistry of wine-making providing their customers with joyful experiences and memories within every bottle. "Wine is love" Petronius once said over two thousand years ago, and to this day, it still holds true. Wine is art. Wine is culture. It is family and friends. It is memories to be shared throughout generations.
There are many aspects of wine and books fill shelves covering every one. If there is anything any one person should know, it is the following:
Let me get this out the way first: wine is like perfume - any one particular style is not for everyone. What I say is an excellent example of a classic Napa Cabernet, you may think it is complete panther piss! I remember my first experience tasting wine - it was at my parents house when they were drinking boxed wine (wine packaged in a resealable container). My first sip turned me off completely. I thought all wine tasted this bad - "I'll stick to beer" I thought to myself. It wasn't until my family took a trip up to Sonoma that I changed my opinion. It was during that week I learned everyone makes wine differently - the key is finding what suits your palette. Our first stop was Viansa Winery - my original opinion of wine began to fade. When we arrived at Wellington Winery, my original opinion was a distant memory - I was hooked!
Lets clarify the 'cost' factor one and for all. Forget this now: expensive wine does NOT equal good wine. I've tasted wines that the very notable Wine Spectator has deemed a great wine, 92pts; only to find that my taste buds didn't believe it to be all that special. Let's look at Rancho Zabaco - they offer exceptional quality wines at very reasonable prices - I think I paid $8 for a bottle of their zinfandel. On the flip side, I've paid upwards of $40 for a bottle of zinfandel only to pour it down the drain because no one in my house, including myself, was even going to finish what was in their glass!It all comes down to what you think is enjoyable and what you're willing to pay for it. Remember, wine reviews are merely ones' opinion, and we all know what they say about people's opinions.
