Comments on: The pressure of wine knowledge http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/ Find Better Wines Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:53:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: mark http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5092 mark Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5092 Hey, they keep asking you so you must be doing a good job. Honestly the best way to learn more about something is to try to apply that knowledge in a stressful situation -- like teaching, for example. I'd say you have a good problem on your hands. Hey, they keep asking you so you must be doing a good job.

Honestly the best way to learn more about something is to try to apply that knowledge in a stressful situation — like teaching, for example. I’d say you have a good problem on your hands.

]]> By: oceank8 http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5094 oceank8 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5094 I am flattered when people ask, but I feel the stress as well. The one thing I try to remind myself is, the power of suggestion can sway a person to like the wine. They probably didn't know much in the first place and figure if you like it, they will too. I tend to have a slightly different problem, people ask me which wineries they should go to. I have to ask myself - do they want the best wine? most fun? best deals? biggest crowd? smallest crowd? I try to figure out their goal and then give suggestions. But I always worry whether of not they will enjoy it! I am flattered when people ask, but I feel the stress as well. The one thing I try to remind myself is, the power of suggestion can sway a person to like the wine. They probably didn’t know much in the first place and figure if you like it, they will too. I tend to have a slightly different problem, people ask me which wineries they should go to. I have to ask myself - do they want the best wine? most fun? best deals? biggest crowd? smallest crowd? I try to figure out their goal and then give suggestions. But I always worry whether of not they will enjoy it!

]]> By: Philip http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5095 Philip Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5095 Ocean - I'd find directing people to a winery harder than choosing a bottle, for exactly the reasons you stated: what kind of experience are they truly looking for. With a bottle, people are generally looking for something tasty at a reasonable price - somehow i find that easier Ocean - I’d find directing people to a winery harder than choosing a bottle, for exactly the reasons you stated: what kind of experience are they truly looking for. With a bottle, people are generally looking for something tasty at a reasonable price - somehow i find that easier

]]> By: RBoulanger http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5117 RBoulanger Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5117 How about this? Last month I was in Barbaresco with a producer and her boyfriend (also a winemaker) who were taking me out to dinner. They insisted on handing me the wine list and making me choose the wine. Ok - what to do? -Ordering their wine would be stupid - especially since we spent the afternoon sampling their various products. Neither party wanted that. -I felt silly ordering another of the many Barbarescos on the list. They don't really want to drink their neighbors' wine, do they? But wait, I do! -Ordering one of the "obvious" foreign wines on the list - Latour Burgundy, Phelps from CA. Although they might enjoy it, these bottles struck me as horribly overpriced. Besides, I didn't go to Italy to drink California wine! In the end, I ordered a bottle of Barbaresco (in the immortal words of Bush "I'm the decider") from another producer in a very good (but underrated) year and, after the bottle was done, got a "oh, I haven't tried so and so's wine in a while. That was pretty good." Then we moved on to a 1996 Malbec-Tannat from Argentina that was fantastic and woefully underpriced, and I think everyone was thrilled. BTW, I'm keeping the restaurant's name secret because, during the cellar visit after dinner (something that more American restaurants need to do), I saw that there were 10 more bottles of the Argentine wine in the bin. I plan on drinking one next time... John - just thank your lucky stars that these "friends" have yet to pull the blind tasting game on you. Prepare yourself, it's coming, it's silly and, most importantly, it's impossible. How about this? Last month I was in Barbaresco with a producer and her boyfriend (also a winemaker) who were taking me out to dinner. They insisted on handing me the wine list and making me choose the wine. Ok - what to do?
-Ordering their wine would be stupid - especially since we spent the afternoon sampling their various products. Neither party wanted that.
-I felt silly ordering another of the many Barbarescos on the list. They don’t really want to drink their neighbors’ wine, do they? But wait, I do!
-Ordering one of the “obvious” foreign wines on the list - Latour Burgundy, Phelps from CA. Although they might enjoy it, these bottles struck me as horribly overpriced. Besides, I didn’t go to Italy to drink California wine!

In the end, I ordered a bottle of Barbaresco (in the immortal words of Bush “I’m the decider”) from another producer in a very good (but underrated) year and, after the bottle was done, got a “oh, I haven’t tried so and so’s wine in a while. That was pretty good.” Then we moved on to a 1996 Malbec-Tannat from Argentina that was fantastic and woefully underpriced, and I think everyone was thrilled. BTW, I’m keeping the restaurant’s name secret because, during the cellar visit after dinner (something that more American restaurants need to do), I saw that there were 10 more bottles of the Argentine wine in the bin. I plan on drinking one next time…

John - just thank your lucky stars that these “friends” have yet to pull the blind tasting game on you. Prepare yourself, it’s coming, it’s silly and, most importantly, it’s impossible.

]]> By: HondaJohn http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5127 HondaJohn Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5127 AWWWWW ... blind tasting ... the bane of anyone who thinks they know something about wine. I agree RBoulanger, I think this will definitely get me into trouble. I have had this done to me once in the past. I actually reverted to what I tell people in the tasting room: - Decide if I like or not - Then try to figure out what I like, dislike about it. If asked vintage, varietal or producer. I'll pretend like I don't know anything. ;-) AWWWWW … blind tasting … the bane of anyone who thinks they know something about wine. I agree RBoulanger, I think this will definitely get me into trouble.

I have had this done to me once in the past. I actually reverted to what I tell people in the tasting room:

- Decide if I like or not
- Then try to figure out what I like, dislike about it.

If asked vintage, varietal or producer. I’ll pretend like I don’t know anything. ;-)

]]> By: Philip http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5131 Philip Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5131 RBoulanger came joint first in the Wine Century Club's annual dinner with some insanely difficult blind tasting challenge. I scored maybe 1 out of 6, but it was ridiculous. It was multiple choice which helped me, but when the grape varietals include: Mtsvane, its clearly game over for me. RBoulanger might remember the actual wines in the blind tasting. RBoulanger came joint first in the Wine Century Club’s annual dinner with some insanely difficult blind tasting challenge. I scored maybe 1 out of 6, but it was ridiculous.

It was multiple choice which helped me, but when the grape varietals include: Mtsvane, its clearly game over for me. RBoulanger might remember the actual wines in the blind tasting.

]]> By: RBoulanger http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5133 RBoulanger Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5133 Yes, but I have since retired from blind tasting - I'm quitting while I am ahead! I believe it was Ribolla Gialla and Zierfandler. I truly hope they don't expect me to get them again next year. Yes, but I have since retired from blind tasting - I’m quitting while I am ahead!

I believe it was Ribolla Gialla and Zierfandler.

I truly hope they don’t expect me to get them again next year.

]]> By: philip http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5091 philip Mon, 05 May 2008 14:04:21 +0000 http://blog.snooth.com/2008/05/05/the-pressure-of-wine-knowledge/#comment-5091 John - I get this too, unsurprisingly it gets worse. The one thing that catches me out is every evening (or even afternoon) business meeting, everyone I meet with is excited to have the excuse to drink wine on the company dime. There's nothing like going to have a working lunch with your lawyers, saying to the waiter "water's fine" and then hearing the lawyers say "wha? I thought we should at least have a bottle of wine". I used to try to get out of it, but i've since realized its my job to indulge them. I'm sure your friends and colleagues feel the same way - they like the fact that you present an excuse to drink wine at any time of the day (just like you do in the winery!). John - I get this too, unsurprisingly it gets worse. The one thing that catches me out is every evening (or even afternoon) business meeting, everyone I meet with is excited to have the excuse to drink wine on the company dime. There’s nothing like going to have a working lunch with your lawyers, saying to the waiter “water’s fine” and then hearing the lawyers say “wha? I thought we should at least have a bottle of wine”.

I used to try to get out of it, but i’ve since realized its my job to indulge them. I’m sure your friends and colleagues feel the same way - they like the fact that you present an excuse to drink wine at any time of the day (just like you do in the winery!).

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