Mystery and backstories
Over the years of holding our monthly wine dinners and tastings, one of the things we have discovered is that our customers specifically – and wine consumers in general – love to hear the backstory. Whether it is winery history or winemaking anecdotes, we all like to know what happens behind the scenes. There has been much in the wine press over recent years, and in fact we have even written about all of the hand wringing about demystifying wine, and making it a more “democratic” product. We have come down on the side and remain on the side of this being so much “bunk.”
More “democratic,” really? How can it be any more democratic, you taste a wine you like it, you buy more. You don’t like it, no reason to go back. Not sure why or even how one would come up with a more democratic process than that.
As far as the mystery goes, bring it on, the more mysterious the better. Mystery for us engenders passion the likes of which are common when it comes to wine. This drink of fermented grape juice stirs the passions of all who really enjoy it, and frankly the mystery is part of that for all of us. Think of the questions and curiosities that run through your own mind when you are enjoying a really great glass of wine. How did they get so much flavor in this one? Wow, this is a powerhouse, how did they get so much body to it? This is delicious, I wonder how much more there is?
Think too of the memories a really great bottle evokes. Some of my favorites are when you get a highly aromatic wine that reminds you of a winery production facility that is filled with all of those harvest smell,s like yeast, fresh grape juice and the fermenting wine. Or the smell of a vineyard during harvest, with aromas of freshly picked fruit. The sounds of the vineyard during harvest, the swish of the cutting knife and rapid fire conversations – usually in Spanish – as a harvest crew artfully works up and down the rows of vines with so much dexterity and precision.
So much of a winery and a vineyard is pure mystery to wine consumers, most of us have never worked there, so it remains a mystery, and frankly there is nothing wrong with that. It stirs the imagination and it elicits passion. All of this talk of demystifying and democracy is simply misplaced.
The real conversation we should have relative to wine is about making it less intimidating. That I get. That is a much more worthwhile goal. Here are some good starting points if you find wine intimidating:
First, taste a lot of wine. Taste it with your friends and family, taste it by yourself; or start a group with no other affiliation than you get together and taste wine. And taste with a group that has more and less experience with wine than you do. When you taste with others, talk about what you find in the wine, both aromatics and flavors. Ask questions of others about what they taste and what they like and don’t, it all goes into your knowledge base and you will find it is not scary at all. When you are tasting by yourself, make a note or two in a wine journal. If you have that bottle again, compare what you taste now versus what you tasted previously. The best way to make something less intimidating is to get to know it, it’s true of wine, people and experiences.
Next ask questions a lot of questions. If you are at an organized tasting at a shop or at a wine dinner, ask the winemaker – it is why we have them at all of our functions. They know their wine better than anyone and can explain it. Or ask us when you attend one our tastings, our time spent working in wineries is invaluable when it comes to helping consumers know good wine. It is our job, and if we don’t know the answer, we won’t stop until we get the answer.
As you learn, share your knowledge with your fellow tasters. Just be straightforward when you talk about what you like and what you don’t about a wine. Feel comfortable in saying you don’t prefer a certain varietal or producer, nothing wrong with saying “I’m sure this or that is well made, but it is just not my cup of tea”. The more you talk about a subject, even wine, the more comfortable you will become with it, and the less frightening it is.
Knowledge is the antidote for intimidation. Our goal is to help you gain real knowledge about wine and the winemaking and grape growing processes. Information is everywhere but true knowledge is of real value as you develop your palates and we are ready to help with that.
If there is a topic you would like to read about or if you have questions on wine, you can email George@thedinnerpartyshop.com, or make suggestions by contacting the Healthy Community section at the Coeur d’Alene Press.
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George Balling is co-owner (with his wife Mary Lancaster) of the dinner party, a wine and table top décor shop located by Costco in Coeur d’Alene. George worked as a judge in many wine competitions, and his articles are published around the country. You can learn more about the dinner party at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com. Be sure and check out our weekly blog at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com/home/blog-2 You can get all of these articles as well as other great wine tips by friending us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/dinnerpartyshop.