A Perception of our Wine World

Terra Vineyards

I'm reading the book The Business of Wine - A Global Perspective, and upon reading the initial pages I've come to the conclusion that we Americans don't drink nearly as much wine with our meals as are European counterparts. In fact as far as consumption is concerned the Chinese are catching up to us and if we don't realize the enjoyment factor associated with wine soon, they will surpass us. In my dream world, I see an even keel where wine is concerned, where we all “get it”...wine with our meals with family and friend equals a better feeling people, which equals a better world, not a world where only a few of us sees the importance of this simple action. Perhaps it's the mindset in the US that needs to change, after all the number 1 and 2 countries, France and Italy, “got it” about 3000 years ago, in fact they started the concept. So why hasn't the US caught on? True we are young vineyard nation and our everyday living priories are different...we live to work, they work to live, we have 2 week vacations, they have mandatory 30 day vacations. They have bistros, we have fast food restaurants. We eat quick lunches in our cars, they have a 3 hour lunch at home and wine with that. Do I have to go on to fresh foods versus processed foods? There is no wrong or right here, the only thing needed is a slight shift in perception and to realize what's truly important in our individual lives.

To help with our perception I'd like to point out a few things to think about:

~ wine is a living breathing entity...ever changing and evolving in the bottle and in the wine glass after poured. Each sip brings on a new dimension.
~ wine is a place, meaning wine is representative of the land it comes from….the climate, the weather, the soil, the subsoil….is reflected throughout. Italian wines are distinctive, Greek wines are distinctive, and you can feel it when you taste it.

So the challenge here for us is to change how we see wine and mealtime. I had a wine last evening that I purchase and loved, it’s Rene Barbier Mediterranean Red (from the Cantalunya region of Spain). You can feel the mediterranean-ness of this wine that’s deep dark in depth of color (brought on by sunshine), that’s laddened with dark berry flavors and earth….it has backbone considering it’s young. Tempranillo and Merlot are meaty grapes, the blending to the two is an experience. I suppose that’s my point…wine is an experience, each sip should be treated a such, coupled that with a great meal….a whole new world opens up…..perception changed.

enjoy wine!