The Demystified Vine

Yes, this is an unedited post. I was sitting at my computer, and I suddenly had this urge to write this. So, I thought I’d share it. Folks, I’m going informal tonight!

Want to know why wine is amazing?

Wine is amazing because of its mystery, its history, its bounty, and the pleasure it brings. It is a force of nature that is always changing; vintages are always different because Mother Nature says so. Different grapes grow differently in different places. Sauvignon Blanc tastes like tropical fruits in New Zealand, but claims more herbaceous, grassy notes in North America. Wine making styles are used to take nature’s gift of grape juice and make the juice express itself. There are over 10,000 varietals of varying clones and types. A wine expresses itself through acid, sweetness, body, tannin, intensity, its palate, its bouquet, its life span, its region, its growing conditions and types, its maceration times (or lack thereof), aging, the brix it was harvested at, and the list goes on. This is complicated stuff, and I wish more people would appreciate what goes into that glass that they sip from. Or for those of you who don’t know much about wine, let me tell you that the process of getting that liquid into your glass is really fascinating and intriguing because it is literally a long-term, dedicated process and commitment both in faith and financially. I can’t forget to mention the joy it brings people, the commitment individuals have to learn an entirely new language and understanding of how nature works. The opportunities it brings to clink raised glasses in a toast of celebration. The warm feeling it gives you on a cold winter night, or even the way certain wines pair fabulously with cuisines from all over this good Earth.