Seriously?

Has anyone noticed lately just how silly the world of wine is becoming? Seriously? I mean, everybody seems to be getting caught up in the game of flowery terminology. As though a nose of fine Italian licorice and a hint of Australian Koala Bear pee on the palate are important to us anymore! Seriously??

And on top of that, it seems to me that too many wine shops these days are resorting to try to reinvent themselves (perhaps they are just in survival mode) by trying every trick in the book to suck customers into their stores. At what point does another class on 'the obscure wines of Tibet' or 'wines made from grapes that start with the letter C' become too much? Seriously?

Yes, we get it... businesses have to do whatever it takes these days to stay in business, but SERIOUSLY, when did the simple concepts of over-the-top personal service and extremely competitive prices fall by the wayside. Are today's wine consumers so gullible that they just don't get it? I love wine classes as much as the next guy, but for goodness sake, make them interesting and don't bore me by reading some crap you pulled off Wikipedia. And at least keep pouring while you pontificate!!!

Seriously... how about we all go back to the basics of marketing and customer service and not take wine so seriously? Tell me why I should spend my money with you, and remind me often so I don't forget. Remember, we have lots of choices. Seriously.

Spring has finally sprung!

Well, well, well. It has been way too long since I've put on my blogger hat and posted something here. Since springtime is finally here, maybe it's time for a few words... not that spring has anything to do with anything. You know, all that fresh new season, longer day, brighter horizons kind of stuff. So, what's been going on and swirling around in my wine life? Me, I've enjoying lots of great wine but very slack about posting to my blog!

There have been too many wines to remember that have graced my glass since I last wrote something here, but then there can never really be too many wines. Right? I recently attended an amazing wine dinner at Second Empire in Raleigh that paired delicious creative dishes with stunning rare French wines... Champagne, Burgundies (white and red) Bordeaux from Magnums and luscious Sauternes with dessert. Our host, Tom Black, collect and studies these special rare collectibles and was extremely gracious and educational. And his jokes were funny, too!

Attending events such as that with my wine buddies, the Mad Dawgs (check us out on Facebook), as well as another recent dinner featuring a decadent main course of TurDucKen continue to offer me more insight into the world of pairings. When you stuff a turkey with a chicken and a duck, then roast with lots of rich yummy stuffing, the wine pairing challenges are kicked up several notches.  We tried wine from France, Italy, Australia, USA and Spain. We tried a variety of blends as well as a number of "single grape" wines, and you know what??? They were ALL good. Granted some were better than others, but (I repeat) they were ALL GOOD! Drink what you like and like what you drink... that's my new motto.

As we roll into warmer months and begin to sip more crisp acidic whites and lighter reds to pair with all the outdoor cooking we'll be doing, remember, it's not about the wine or the food or the pairing, it's about the moment. Enjoy the moment. Live in the moment. Savor the present, because it is truly a gift!

Until next time... cheers!