Day 20 – A Year of Gratitude and Joy – Wine

In my younger days, I was not a wine drinker. I didn’t quite understand the nuance of wine flavors and pairings. Then I met a guy from California, a self-described “Cork Dork” who introduced me to complicated reds and refreshing whites and everything in between.

We visited wineries together, tasted hundreds of wines, and honed in on our favorites. I learned the joy of wine. Somewhere along the path of discovery, I learned that some of my favorite reds gave me headaches. OH NO! 

Then we went on vacation in Italy. We drank copious amounts of Italian red wine! I didn’t have a single headache. Hmmm … could it be the country of origin? Was it American reds … or more specifically California reds?

I decided I was up for the challenge of figuring it out. We shared bottles from Italy, Germany, South Africa, Argentina, Spain, France and more. We tried reds from California, Virginia, Arizona, New York … even Oklahoma. It became apparent that there’s something about the way US winemakers create their cabs, pinots, and merlots that puts a little twinge into my head. 

It was right about the time I figured that out that we met Liza. She’s a wine consultant with Vinera Wine Society, an importer of international wines from boutique wine makers. We sampled several wines, bought two cases and joined the club. We added a large wine rack to our pantry.

That was three years ago. Since then we’ve been to Vinera wine tastings, a wine dinner and even hosted an eight-course tasting dinner in our home. Liza has broadened our horizons and become a friend. Wine is part of everyday life – in glasses and in our food.

I am grateful for good wine. The flavors and ritual of savoring a glass bring me joy. 

There’s a whole world out there just waiting to be explored. Enjoy a glass of wine (or two) along the way.

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