The Blood of Jove

I love wine. I am an amateur enthusiast – by no means do I understand enough about wine to be a connoisseur. But I have learned enough to order good wine with confidence, and without breaking the bank. I haven’t always loved wine, and until a few years ago the only adult beverage I could drink without making a bitter face was tequila. But that’s a story for another time. Today, I share my limited knowledge of wine, and I hope to embark on a new journey to educate myself enough to one day raise my glass with other enthusiasts and not be regarded as an idiot.
I use to drink Merlot. Why? Because I didn’t know any better. Eventually I got tired of the headaches, and the inconsistency of each bottle. Then I started touring vineyards and wineries of the Texas Hill Country, and all those trips matured my taste enough for me to realize that Merlot is crap. I’ll only drink it now if it is highly masked in a Super Tuscan blend, and listed last on the bottle. I prefer a full-bodied red wine, and I really enjoy spicy (for lack of a more appropriate and educated term). I like Shiraz, Syrah, some Pinot Noir, some Cabernet, Tempranillo, Malbec, and Sangiovese. What is also interesting is that on these tours through the Texas tasting rooms, I come home with more white wine than red. Does it mean that I prefer white to red? Absolutely not – let’s just get that straight right now! Texas makes incredibly good white wines, and dry, just how I like them. I’ve grown to love local Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc, which pair well with our spicy food here in Texas. I’ve also enjoyed Chenin Blanc and Pinot Grigio from these wineries. And I must note that I think sweet wine is for sissies, like those Californian hippies. That’s right, I will not buy wine from California if I can avoid it. They are almost as arrogant as the French. Well…my state is bigger and better than their state…period. I have an appreciation for Italian wines, Latin American wines, and Australian wines. This is what I know now. And I must reiterate that I am a wine drinker, not a collector, not a connoisseur.

Two years ago for my birthday I received a book, Windows on the World Complete Wine Course, and I haven’t touched it. I’ve talked about it, but it has collected dust...shame on me. I think I will start with chapter 1 this month.

More to come…

-Ambra