I saw an interesting article yesterday written by one of the UK’s most respected wine writers. Victoria Moore was writing in the Telegraph about whether it’s really a good thing we’ve got all these writers and bloggers trying to demystify wine. Is half (if not most of) the fun of it that it’s actually full of mystery and there’s always something new to be discovered?
To a certain extent I agree. That’s not to say I reckon it should be this closed, snobby environment where only a few people understand what the hell’s going on. Far from it. I mean more that when you do know more and you become a full on wine geek, that’s when the mystery gets fun again, and without it we wouldn’t even bother.
The bit I disagree (well maybe not disagree as I’m sure this wasn’t her point) is that everyone needs a start. If you don’t really know what’s going on at all from the outset then outside of knowing your red from your white you’re a bit stuck. I’m not saying you need to know the whats and whys on the differences between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio styles just yet. More that “this is Sauvignon Blanc, try it!” or “this is Chardonnay, try it!”
But the article was written in a great way. For wine-o’s it’s affirmation as to why we love it. We don’t drink it to get drunk, we drink it because it gets our heads going, it interests us with all the little details and nuances and all that jazz. That’s what it’s all about.
Cheers
Image borrowed from https://www.crackawines.com.au/brand/mystery-winery/mystery-margaret-river-chardonnay/