Explaining Wine Passion

C’est compliqué. It’s complicated. That’s probably the best way to explain unbridled wine passion. Even people immersed in it may find it hard to put into words. One thing that connects many of us is a wine moment when the veil dropped to the floor, and we knew it. Something changed.

Master of Wine Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan talks of a perfect wine-food pairing of Sancerre and herb-crusted salmon that she found sublime during a business luncheon. At his grandfather’s urging, the late Steven Spurrier recounted tasting a 1908 Cockburn on Christmas Eve when he was a mere 13 years old.

People come to wine from all sectors and realms. Wine isn’t just alcohol. It’s history. That’s what makes wine passion so fascinating. It’s as if you’ve gotten in touch with our collective journey. Life sometimes gets in the way of feeling its magic. However, it’s still there, beckoning us to embrace it.

Describing Wine Passion

You can group wine passion with anything a person finds a connection. I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was in eighth grade. I feel blessed and fortunate that my dream became a reality. You can describe it as an ah-ah moment that happens to involve wine. It’s like when you see the image in an optical illusion. You can’t un-see it.

Interestingly, wine passion has captured people previously uninvolved in the industry or pastime. Sometimes, it occurs unexpectedly. It has redirected some individuals to a different career path. We can speak of the captivating taste and enjoy the feeling it gives us. But, this fervor is something more. It’s a drive.

Unlocking the Stories

An intriguing aspect of wine is learning the stories. We like to know the people behind the scenes. Who doesn’t like a good romance? One of the things I enjoyed on my wine journey was learning about the land, its people, and the culture of the various regions.

For example, it wasn’t just the grapes. It was learning about the topography and climate that allowed some varieties to thrive in certain places. That segues into the culture and the foods that complemented the wine. The wine also creates its own story. Take Vin Cuit.

Vin Cuit isn’t a beverage you’ll find at your local bottle shop. It is a specialty of the Palette AOC of Provence. People make it by cooking grape must for 10 hours over an open fire to concentrate the flavors of the Grenache Noir variety. It’s potent stuff, as you can well imagine, and requires something special to drink with it. The locals imbibe it on Christmas Eve with 13 different desserts.

It doesn’t get much sweeter than that.

Some stories sound unbelievable in today’s world. Take the accounts of Champagne during World War II. Winemakers, or more correctly, vignerons, bravely defended and preserved their wines from Nazi occupation, with some paying the ultimate price. The book “Wine and War” is an excellent read that will astound you about this little-known chapter.

Let’s just say you’ll never experience a glass of Moët & Chandon Champagne the same way again.

Following Your Own Path

These accounts show you can approach wine from whatever place or front you choose. There isn’t a set or correct path. Many refer to it as a journey. You forge the way ahead wherever you want to explore. My wine passion includes the history of what’s in my glass. I’m fascinated by wineries that have existed for generations.

However, if you just want to enjoy the wine without any fanfare, go for it! Just know more is waiting for you if you want to delve deeper. It can make that glass of wine much more interesting than throwing back a beer. The story awaits.

Photo by Stefan Johnson on Unsplash