From Casual Wine Drinker to Wine Collector: My Start in “Wine Talk”
Welcome to our Wine Army contributor series. These contributors have shared their wine story with us and now we have the opportunity to share it with you.
An Unexpected Introduction to Wine
I have enjoyed a glass of wine for most of my life. My appreciation for wine developed when in my mid 40’s, I found myself single and invited out to dinners and parties.
A friend invited me to a dinner party where each guest brought a prepared food dish. Since I have limited culinary skills, I offered to bring the wine for dinner. The host agreed but then a fear set in: I realized the other seven guests would have sophisticated wine tastes.
A Little Research Goes a Long Way
Since I was simply a casual wine drinker, I knew I had better do some research. I asked a friend whom I knew had extensive wine knowledge to give me some recommendations as to what wine to bring to this party. I took his advice, and the dinner guests all loved the choice. That got me started.
Discovering My Own Taste
I decided to develop my own wine knowledge. I went to the liquor store and purposely chose wines from different countries, regions, and varietals. Then as I tasted them (usually with a friend to get a second opinion), I studied the labels, did some research, and over time developed some knowledge of what wines I liked.
Exploring the World Through Wine
Then about a year later, a friend suggested I join a ‘wine of the month’ club. He was a member and said he got a mixed box of six wines each month. The wines were from around the world and all varietals. I stayed with the mixed boxes for about two years until I had enough knowledge of their offerings, and then I started ordering case lots of 6 or 12 bottles.
From Recommendations to a Growing Collection
I made connections with a couple of wine brokers in my area. Now they’ve made recommendations and opened even more purchasing choices for me.
Then I realized I better get a larger cooler. That is when I purchased a 200-bottle cooler. Now I had wines saved and stored for drinking years later. As I was showing off my new cooler, a friend said to me, “You are a wine collector.” That thought never occurred to me, but they were right.
Becoming the Go-To Wine Person
After about 10 years of studying, reading, attending wine tastings, talking to brokers, wine makers, and sommeliers, I gained a good sense of wines to enjoy.
I have received calls from friends while they are standing in the liquor store asking for recommendations, I have been asked by other customers in the liquor store for recommendations, and I am now certainly the go to person with friends at the restaurant to choose the wine(s) for dinner. When I get an invitation to a dinner party now, the host usually asks me to make the wine recommendations.
Still Learning, Still Enjoying
Do not get me wrong, 20 + years after that dinner party I am just a guy who likes wine, did some research, and gained some knowledge to go from casual wine drinker to wine collector. I certainly defer to the experts and enjoy talking wine with them. Yes, I have some favourite wines, and I have also learned to enjoy all wines and appreciate each wine for what it is.
About Michael
Michael is a Canada-based wine enthusiast.
To learn more about Michael, you visit his Facebook page.
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