Beyond Wine Ignorance: Embrace Discovery

Years have passed. The love and the journey continue, but the passion and the excitement of the senses have become more cerebral and serene. Funny how this works. With each passing year, I find that the fervor of my heart has settled into a profound appreciation, one that speaks more through silence than through words. The love is there, unyielding, but it has grown deeper, more introspective.

I post my wine impressions and notes on Twitter, it's quick and easy, the so-called "short form". What about essays, let alone epics? Perhaps one day soon. But let me try a "thought form"... a paragraph or two expressing a single thought or emotion...

In the vibrant, bustling San Francisco Bay Area, home to countless wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs, I often find myself amidst individuals who, despite their self-proclaimed liking or even love for wine, possess a rather surface-level understanding of it. This observation is not meant as criticism but as an invitation to explore. I get it. It's like me with most foods and drinks. I consume them, but just don't care enough to study them. Yet, wine is different. It's not merely a beverage but a gateway to a richer, more fulfilling lifestyle. The journey into wine culture is remarkably accessible. Start simple: buy a few bottles, perhaps from different regions, and open them together with dinner. Note the nuances, the stories each bottle tells through its flavors and aromas. Or, consider attending a wine tasting at local gems like the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in San Francisco or Vin Vino Wine in Palo Alto. Maybe buy a book like Adventures on a Wine Route or Reflections of a Wine Merchant or Sideways. This sets you on a path that will enrich your life and expand your horizons tremendously, because wine appreciation influences your travel, your gastronomy, your company, your sense of history, culture, nature, time, and on. Friend, take that step, and stop being embarrassed by your ignorance.