Do you remember those days where you'd look forward to Thursday night's and going out to the bars with your roommates and friends, letting loose after a long stressful week. I loved those nights. Unfortunately those college days are long gone and now replaced with happy hours and classy evenings drinking wine. Which I prefer and love doing don't get my wrong.
During college I was not your typical "college drinker." Sure I played my fair share of drinking games but I was never your college drinks type of drinker. No. I was in my own league. I was that girl who was carrying a bottle of Riesling during tailgate instead of an ice cold pack of beer, playing beer pong with wine in my cups, and even pre-drinking with wine. What can I say.... I love wine. On the evening I met my boyfriend, he offered to buy me a drink. I stood there unsure of what to do. The bar special was a glass of beer, a shot, or a glass of wine for a certain price. I remember thinking to myself, just order the wine Jessica, you hate beer and don't like taking shots. He won't care that you are a wine drinker. So when I told him my reasoning for ordering wine (because I love wine), he still to this day says from that moment he knew I was different and a girl to not let get away.
Red, white, sparking, Chilean, sweet, dry, you name it, I will try it. So far I have loved almost every type of wine I have tried. One of the greatest things about wine is that for some people it is a hobby and a part of culture. Wine making is an art and as I continue to expand my taste buds and understanding of wine, I find myself becoming more and more intrigued. Learning how to pair certain wines with certain foods. What a vintage wine means. (A "vintage wine" is one made from grapes that were all or mostly grown in a particular year, and labeled as such.) How to choose a brand of wine and where they are grown the best. How to "aerate" your wine and when to use a decanter. I know I have a lot to learn and I look forward to expanding my knowledge with wine.
According to Urban Dictionary, I am somewhat of a wino; an alcoholic who believes drinking wine is justified because of its associated status among other types of alcohol. I am mocking myself of course because sometimes my friends tease me for being such a wino. I have never been the type of girl who craves a nice cold beer or a cosmopolitan when in need of a drink. Instead my ideal drink is a nice cold glass of Gewurztraminer, which is one of the most famous wines of Germany (and I am German which is probably partly why I like it so much) and/or a nice room temperature glass of Merlot. Delicious.
Having been a wino for a few years now, I have to admit that I feel empowered and classy when I hold a glass of wine. I think people look extremely sophisticated when they are sipping wine out of their stemmed wine glasses. May be that is a little weird but I don't care. All I know is that little details truly make drinking wine such an art and a hobby of mine that I really enjoy. I can't wait to grow into a wine connoisseur and hopefully make my own wine firsthand one day. I am proud to be a wino and I am going to wine whenever I want too.
Are you a wino? What is your favorite kind of wine? How did you learn about wine?
"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance." - Benjamin Franklin
I can't remember when I fell in love with wine. Whether it's with dinner or simply with appetizers; a glass of wine brings out the flavor of the food more. I also agree with "I feel empowered and classy when I hold a glass of wine." It is classy!
ReplyDeletePerhaps attedning a wine & cheese event should be on one of our to-do's in 2011!!