Everything you need to know about wine
I make my living teaching people about wine. I write about, I lecture about it, and I even teach people how to teach other people about wine. In fact, I will even be Live In Person at the Denver Merchandise Mart on April 11th pushing my wine education services and signing books (if you are in the neighborhood, drop by for a free component tasting).
So, the question that begs to be asked, is simply "How much do you really need to know about wine?" Considering what I do, taking into factor how committed I am to wine eduction, you may be pretty certain of my answer.
If you suspected I was going to say "You don't need to know anything at all" you would be right.
I think, I espouse, I live and breath the gospel of wine education, and yet, I am saying it is not necessary. Wine is food. You don't need to take classes in cheeseburgers. There is no certification program for ice cream appreciation. Rarely do you hear long conversations on which potatoes go best with which meats.
To enjoy wine, you simply have to drink some. It helps if you find a wine you like, but once you have, chances are you may never again need to give wine a second thought.
So why are you reading a blog about wine education? Why I have I honed my craft, and dedicated a better part of my life to teaching about the nuances of this one seemingly special food stuff?
In fact some do celebrate food, and some do talk about it. These people, and I am surely one, fall under the heading of Gourmet. Some foodies can spend a night talking about potatoes, although it sounds like a painful night to live through, but mostly they just really appreciate food.
Many gourmets are critical. Not just about food, but about everything they encounter. Again, this is a social sin I revel in. These critics are often early adopters of technology (and yes, I am loving my AppleTV) and they are the discerning consumers others look to for shopping advice.
On one side of the scale are the "wine that I like with the food that I like" people. They tend to be content, and (perhaps blissfully) unaware of any shortcomings to their food and wine experience.
On the other side of the scale are those poor unfortunate individuals, like myself, who are rarely content. For us the perfect meal is an unapproachable ideal, and so every dining experience is doomed to some degree of disappointment.
The great majority, especially of my readers, fall into the middle somewhere.
For you, knowing nothing about wine is too little - and knowing everything is too much (and besides, it is a lot of work).
And so, I continue to dole out my morsels of wine education. Hoping to provide you with the right balance of information vs. fun (sort of like acidity vs. fruit).
How much wine education you personally should know is entirely up to you. You can enjoy wine without knowing anything. You will probably enjoy it more if you aren't obsessed with knowing everything.
It is my job to learn everything I can. Not only so I can pass it on to you, but so I can try to satisfy a thirst I can not name (with my apologies to Kris Kristofferson). And well, lets be honest, I have learned everything I know just so I can show off - but this isn't a therapy session.
So how much should YOU know about wine? Exactly as much as is fun! And don't you worry, I will always be here to give you more when you want it.
So, the question that begs to be asked, is simply "How much do you really need to know about wine?" Considering what I do, taking into factor how committed I am to wine eduction, you may be pretty certain of my answer.
If you suspected I was going to say "You don't need to know anything at all" you would be right.
I think, I espouse, I live and breath the gospel of wine education, and yet, I am saying it is not necessary. Wine is food. You don't need to take classes in cheeseburgers. There is no certification program for ice cream appreciation. Rarely do you hear long conversations on which potatoes go best with which meats.
To enjoy wine, you simply have to drink some. It helps if you find a wine you like, but once you have, chances are you may never again need to give wine a second thought.
So why are you reading a blog about wine education? Why I have I honed my craft, and dedicated a better part of my life to teaching about the nuances of this one seemingly special food stuff?
In fact some do celebrate food, and some do talk about it. These people, and I am surely one, fall under the heading of Gourmet. Some foodies can spend a night talking about potatoes, although it sounds like a painful night to live through, but mostly they just really appreciate food.
Many gourmets are critical. Not just about food, but about everything they encounter. Again, this is a social sin I revel in. These critics are often early adopters of technology (and yes, I am loving my AppleTV) and they are the discerning consumers others look to for shopping advice.
On one side of the scale are the "wine that I like with the food that I like" people. They tend to be content, and (perhaps blissfully) unaware of any shortcomings to their food and wine experience.
On the other side of the scale are those poor unfortunate individuals, like myself, who are rarely content. For us the perfect meal is an unapproachable ideal, and so every dining experience is doomed to some degree of disappointment.
The great majority, especially of my readers, fall into the middle somewhere.
For you, knowing nothing about wine is too little - and knowing everything is too much (and besides, it is a lot of work).
And so, I continue to dole out my morsels of wine education. Hoping to provide you with the right balance of information vs. fun (sort of like acidity vs. fruit).
How much wine education you personally should know is entirely up to you. You can enjoy wine without knowing anything. You will probably enjoy it more if you aren't obsessed with knowing everything.
It is my job to learn everything I can. Not only so I can pass it on to you, but so I can try to satisfy a thirst I can not name (with my apologies to Kris Kristofferson). And well, lets be honest, I have learned everything I know just so I can show off - but this isn't a therapy session.
So how much should YOU know about wine? Exactly as much as is fun! And don't you worry, I will always be here to give you more when you want it.
posted by Wineguy at 11:00 AM
3 Comments:
I know this isn't the correct place to post a question like this, but I have a question that is probably both corny and annoying. I am planning on proposing to my beautiful girlfriend in the near future and I have managed to shrug off enough of my distaste for cliche long enough to want to get a really memorable bottle of wine from the year of her birth, which happens to be 1980. As I'm currently in grad school and likely to never resurface completely from the student loan debt I've incurred, price is somewhat of a consideration, but obviously not too much of one. If you could please suggest something to me I would be really grateful. I can't seem to find anything reviewed very well as well as available. If you happen to get a chance, my email is optimaloverdrive@yahoo.com
None of my regular readers will be shocked to know that I recommended Port. Not only does it age well, and sell at a great price, but in the problematic 1980 vintage, it is pretty much your only choice for wine that is still drinkable.
Hello Jacsun
Well I don't have to tell you about the variety of different types of wine available and i suppose that a sparkling wine is the traditional approach to the kind of proposal you are planing.
But for my money I'm gonna recommend a decent red wine - Maybe a Merlot or a Cabernet Sauvignon. If you are careful and visita decent retailer I'm sure you can pick up a decent bottle without melting the plastic.
Good luck
Kevin
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