A wine reminder for every enthusiast
We all need them.
I would like to preface this post with the stipulation that yes, I am about as biased as it gets on this particular topic. So be it.
This month I had the absolute pleasure of hosting a collaborative class on the wine regions of Mexico. We explored the Mexican highlands, Baja California, and more. It was a region that I had been excited to share, but was still a bit insecure with my knowledge and wanted to make sure to have an expert on the material leading the show :)
The whole process reminded me of a recurring thought I've been having with wine education:
The more, the merrier.
The world of wine can draw people in for a thousand different reasons: pure hedonistic indulgence, exploration of history and culture, experience of biology and chemistry in a glass, nostalgia of wine culture taught in our upbringing, the list goes on. Due to this, each one of us can teach about wine in a unique, valuable way. Our passion tends to fuel how we understand wine and will influence what we see as most important.
And maybe, on its own, a wine education fueled by one person's passion will be sufficient to understand the material. But when paired with dozens of other people, perspectives, and passions, we are better able to get a full picture of everything that goes into getting those grapes into our glass. One wine professional may be inspired to teach strictly about AOCs, ageing techniques, etc., while another is focused on the history, culture, and tax system imposed that created certain realities in each wine growing region. And yet another professional may be driven to teach about the challenges a region has historically faced getting their wines to market.
I try to be aware of my biases and what drives my wine passion so that I can better anticipate and address my weaknesses. Even so, after teaching with another professional in a collaborative setting, I was reminded that my interests and passion will always drive me towards one corner of the wine world.
Why does this matter to the everyday wine enthusiast?
Two reasons:
- Let your passion lead. If you're on a wine appreciation journey, I encourage you to utilize your focused interests and passions to your advantage. Especially early on, it's important to let your passion drive your journey. This will help keep motivation high as you're learning about new villages and soil types and maceration times. It will also lead you down unique paths of connection and learning that a standardized approach might lack.
- Find the approach that fits you. Realize that there are thousands of ways to approach wine education, and seek out the one that's compatible with you and your journey. From in-person events at bars and restaurants, to print magazines and auction following, to direct travel (maybe even a sneaky little internship??) to vineyards, or even scrolling or doc watching curled up in bed. The knowledge is out there. It continues to evolve and grow. How we consume it can also evolve and grow in our lifetimes.
Anyways, see this as my permission to you to learn about wine however you see fit, from whoever you see fit. Get as many people talking about wine with you as you can. Taste with as many different palates and backgrounds as you can. And know that your experience, background, and individual passions contribute positively to this crazy wine ride we all are riding.
Drink something special today. Cheers, lovelies.