BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE.

February 29, 2008

It’s supposed to be fun.

Drinking wine is really fun. What’s the downside here? Drink too much? Okay, that’s not too good and does not feel worth a darn. Drink cheap stuff that tastes yecchy? Okay, I’ll give you that one. Don’t like the people you are with? Well, you are in complete control here and it’s really not the wine’s fault.

Put fermented grape juice into a glass and you are supposed to have fun. So why are so many people furrowing their brows, and wincing, and immediately reaching for a glass of something else, even water, to get the taste out of their mouths?

I don’t know. When you are drinking wine, you should be on top of the world. It’s a good drink, probably good for you in moderation, leaves a pleasant after-taste, and can improve your general outlook on life.

But so many people don’t look to me like they are having fun. I hate when I see that. C’mon, people, lighten up!

Sure, if you are a professional wine buyer and have to assure what you purchase for your company will sell to the consumer, that’s stress.

If you are professional wine judge and you are in a competition, that’s responsibility.

If you make wine, and you are trying to do your level best to make a great product, that’s a challenge.

But, if you are a good ole’ consumer, out for an evening’s enjoyment, having a fine dinner, or being with friends, that’s fun. I don’t know how to define it any better than that.

Now, maybe, just maybe, and I’m going to give you this one, you are with someone, or someones, who insist on carrying on about wine, swirling it until it practically leaves the glass, and regaling you with stories about how this wine does not compare to the ’91, and declaring the poured wine which you brought “plonk.” I’ll give you that as a scenario that does not engender fun.

Still, that can’t be the norm. Sometimes you get those, but most of the time the wine is poured, you sip, savor, talk about the burning topics of the day, and sip again. Fun.

Every wine drinking experience does not have to be an academic pursuit. Every wine drinking experience does not have to have an agreed upon conclusion. Nor does every experience demand much of your time.

If you are passing time, with or without special friends, simply enjoy the wine. Don’t dissect it. Don’t pass judgment. Just enjoy. You can do that, you know. You are an adult and that is your privilege. 

Next time someone attempts to “serious-up” the situation, tell a joke, leave the room, sit there and hope the moment passes with no one else rising to the bait.

If you are not having fun drinking wine, for whatever reason, stop drinking wine. You are eating up valuable resources that the rest of us can make better use of. Thank you.

Fun Wines Guaranteed to Raise a Smile, even on the labels, and pretty good bargains in price and quality:

INCOGNITO VIOGNIER – The Northern Rhone’s great white grape comes to Mardi Gras. The mask on the label hides many secrets, but you can’t mask the rich mouth-feel and tropical fruit on the palate.

SEVEN HEAVENLY CHARDS – 100% Chardonnay, made a bit heavy-handedly, but still offering something for both the nose and the palate. Great label on the bottle. Chill this baby down, a lot, and enjoy.

SEVEN DEADLY ZINS – There are most certainly better Zinfandels on the market, but this one is a real conversation starter. A great game is to guess the Seven Deadly Sins. How will you know who is right? They are listed right on the label.

Any wine from TOAD HOLLOW – A wide range of grape varietals, incredibly wide range of flavors, yet all consistently done well. This winery lost its founder, Todd Williams, last year, but you can bet he is up in that big vineyard in the sky watching over all aspects. And the current staff knows it.

EARTHQUAKE PETITE SYRAH – With a vineyard planted in the same year the San Francisco Earthquake occurred, 1905, this wine…..what? The Earthquake was in 1906? Are you sure? Well, never mind, we already named the wine and we like what’s in the bottle.