“Grand” was an understatement for this tasting. With 250 wine producers and over 400 wines poured, this was more like heaven (to me anyway). Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get around to tasting all the wines poured. My tongue had started to shut down about 4 hours into the tasting. But, please don’t worry my wine producing friends. I fully intend to get to each and every one of you either at next year’s event or I will be paying you a visit on your home turf.
For now, I have my memories and others (Producers I’ve missed) to look forward to…
You see, it wasn’t just about basking in the waft of wonderfully aromatic wines that fluttered through the air. Or the symphony performing on my palate. It was about meeting the “architect” and learning about the history behind each and every bottle that made all the difference in the experience that is wine.
One such “architect” shared their story about how a bee became the mainstay of one of their white wines. She talked about how it all came about from these old bee houses that were withering away on a small corner of their property. And how once upon a time they donated those old bee houses to a local artist where the artist restored and painted them – returned one as a keepsake. The artist was ultimately asked to design the artful bee that now resides on the wine’s labels. And it doesn’t end there… the winery turned that former bee house corner into a small production vineyard dedicated to the Trebbiano grape varietal. And then came about their amazing wine named Tribiana (Trebbiano) which interestingly has hints of honey on the palate. Yum.
Or another “architect” who was such a character and lucky to say I’ve had the privilege to sit with him for dinner (and vino of course) and learned that he was originally a Civil Engineer. You can totally tell that his engineering skills translated into his wines. To that I mean, how precise his wines are from the color to the moment it hits your senses. For example, his Rosato, wonderfully aromatic, then suddenly an explosive medley of flavors (one after the next) on the mid-palate all the way through a structured course on a long and lingering finish. Bellissimo!
It was these stories (and the passion that fuels them) that truly reminds me everyday why I absolutely love wine.
So my point here is – Whenever possible… take the time to meet the “architect” of every winery you visit, and listen to their stories. See the world through their wine. Because it’s a beautiful world and they love to share it!
And before you know it… you’ll be having your own “Grand” tasting.
I’m just sayin’.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Absolutely agree. If you can’t travel to the vineyards, attend a producer event. The true passion definitely comes through when you are able to drink their wines with them. And you remember it every time you drink one of their wines again!