Wine,
like coffee, is a beverage that somehow inspires romantic tinge.
Not "romantic" in the relational sense, but in that intimate,
humane way that brings about affection in the queerest of inanimate
objects. Down throughout the ages, wine has inspired all sorts of
feelings, touching both culture and lifestyle. At least among those
who know how to appreciate it, wine, my dear, is no ordinary drink;
Least of all should it be approached ordinarily.
The origin
of wine, unlike the origin of coffee, is still in dispute. All that
is known is that wine was first alluded to in old Grecian texts
and artifacts. It was first thoroughly recorded in ancient Egypt,
long after the Greeks. And to the Greeks, wine was a sacrament,
represented no less by an actual god, Dionysius. However, no proof
has been found of wine being made anywhere else, and vice versa.
In time (say around the first millennium), even the Chinese took
a liking to wine; though they created their's out of rice and not
grapes. But this only goes to show that wine, despite its source,
is near-universal, even in the face of culture and geography.
Coffee spread
by word-of-mouth.
Yes. Wine conjures
images of rich snobs and bored housewives. This is all true, if
only because rich snobs and bored housewives also drink the drink
along with everybody else. Wine is for anyone with the passion to
learn how to drink it. And why learn? Well, here's the thing: for
every kind of wine there awaits a soul.
The first step
to discovering your ideal bottle is in purchasing it. Be warned:
wine is a Veblen good. Thorstein Veblen coined the term to describe
how the desirability of a product will go up when its price goes
up. In other words, it is expensive because people want it, and
people want it because it is expensive. Expensive wines are priced
in the similar way of any other brand-name good, for its recognition
and reputation. One can argue for miles about the varied qualities
of winemakers themselves. Truth is that it all boils down to a matter
of personal preference. Bad wines and good wines are still outstanding;
and an educated taste is still worth acquiring. What matters is
that you simply hit the sweet spot in a connoisseur's refined taste,
to know the proverbial difference, all the while having elbow room
to retreat into yourself, into your own ultimate definition of "good"
wine; be it expensive or cheap.
Oh yes, before
I forget. Looking, smelling, tasting, and swirling wine comprise
the rest of the wine connoisseur's method of judging. Look through
your glass. The wine should be cloudy with sediment, or transparent
with little to none. Then smell the wine however you like, from
afar or with a deep sniff inside the glass itself. And finally,
sip it, lightly, and hold it over your tongue. Breathe in a whiff
of air into your mouth, awkwardly, as air allows the wine to get
bolder in taste. Swallow. No, it's not over yet. Try to detect any
aftertaste, whether on the tongue or the throat. And in the end,
was every step pleasurable, according to your own standards?
And as such,
wine is not a drink that is simply drunk, consumed, but held on
the brink of the soul, and appreciated.
Tutorials
on red and white
wine, including varietal descriptions, characteristic, and purchasing
suggestions.
Expanding
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WINE
SNOBS BEWARE!!!! Use our easy wine tutorials
on red and white
wine and expanding list of Free
Wine Reviews to learn more about the many wines
of the world. We explore wine
terminolgy, wine pronunciation(in
our About Red and About
White sections, as well as how to
store wine, order wine in a restaurant,
and more. We have an ever growing directory of articles
about wine, and a wine library of links
to help you find the wine resources you
need. Become the onephile you always wanted to be and impress your
friends buy using our extensive wine information to chose the best
wine to buy that will be your favorite for years to
come. Start by searching our information
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