08/29/06 Broadening Horizons

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and on today's program, I want to encourage you once again to think beyond the label maybe beyond your comfort zone when selecting wine. As I strolled down the wine aisle of my neighborhood grocery, I was looking for something that was new to me. I had recently been to the giant mega-store and stocked up on the usual house wine selection. However, that day I was looking for something new to me. A few other shoppers flew in and grabbed bottles without what seemed to me as much thought. As a fellow strolled and grabbed a bottle I asked him how he new what he wanted? He replied, this is the wine I always buy. Of course, I asked why. What do you like about it? He looked at me blankly and said it is "really smooth". I took that to mean not much acid and maybe even flabby. I am not trying to be a snob I am just trying to get at a point that I truly believe we could all benefit from. Don't get stuck in a rut. Keep things interesting. I mean we spend money to buy ourselves a beverage that isn't just fermented fruit juice to many it is an art form and like any other form of art music, sculpture, painting, dance we seem to appreciate more when we stop to really look or listen. When we take the moment to focus, we invariably find something new to appreciate. Perhaps if you just give yourself a little more credit and realize that just as your tastes in food or music or art may include many different styles so could your taste in wine stand to have some variation. Give it a shot the next time you are tempted to buy the usual. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thank you for joining me onto day's Vine to Wine.