The golden rules for wine lovers
To you, who timidly and curiously approaches the world of fermented grapes, to you who have been into it for some time with bottles, guides, and tastings, to you who spend amounts at the wine shop that are comparable to the final of the Champions League, to you who admiringly watch the gurus guess the grape variety by sniffing a wine from 30 cm away, well, to you I say: keep it up, you are doing great. But beware, the capital sins of the wine snob, puffed up with boring certainties and raised eyebrows, are lurking. Discussing the smell of graphite in the new vintage of Sassicaia with a benevolent taxi driver or recommending a Solera method Champagne to your mother who has to invite her friends to dinner are very bad signs. Write down these golden rules to practice your passion with constancy and self-denial, there is plenty of room to add some more.
Don't show off | This is the first and most important commandment. Be ready to push back against any form of pretentiousness, thinking about how little you know about molecular biology or international relations history. If you really have to show off, do it with someone who challenges you with phrases like: "The 2005 Burgundy seemed overrated to me, I tasted some Oregon that were better instead...".
Taste everything and every time you have the opportunity | If you can, try to do it "blind", without knowing what it is beforehand, and every now and then do not disdain (just once every six months is enough) an "ordinary" wine from the supermarket: it will help you remember where you come from and especially how much you are enjoying yourself now.
Adopt a small producer | Choose them based on the wines and affinities. Visit them, buy their wines, and follow them from harvest to harvest. You will discover the joy of getting to know a wine and a territory up close.
Get adopted by an honest wine merchant | They will help you navigate, discover new worlds, and save money. How do you choose them? It's simple: first of all, they must be nice, and secondly, you have to observe them while they talk about their favorite wines: if you see a light in their eyes that turns on and you can't make them stop, there is no doubt, they are the one for you. However, beware: your palate is the king, if you don't like a wine, it's not because you don't understand it, it's because you don't like it.
Don't have prejudices I Learn to listen to yourself. What you went crazy for yesterday may not satisfy you today. Each age has its beauty and its choice of wine.
Choose producers who care about the environment and sustainability (not only environmental, social sustainability is important too!)
Don't let the closure of a bottle or the packaging of the wine bias your judgement | While corks have traditionally been the go-to closure for wine bottles, other closures such as screwcaps are becoming more popular and can preserve the wine just as well. Don't be afraid to try wines that come in cans or bag-in-box formats either, as these formats are becoming increasingly popular for their convenience and environmental friendliness. Remember, it's what's inside the bottle that counts, not the packaging.
Never drink alone | The beauty of wine is socializing, and if you share it, you save money. PS: Sometimes you can also drink alone. When I have dinner alone at home, and cook something delicious, I always choose a small bottle, open it, and toast (without exaggerating) in solitude. A beautiful moment!
Politely monopolize the wine list at the restaurant | Not to show off, but because this is where you put into practice the ultimate goal that every good wine lover must strive for, namely the moment of the three "G's": good food, good company, good wine.
Go to a wine fair at least once while staying sober (not completely sober, but sober) | There is no need to go to drink like a sponge until you can no longer distinguish a Riesling from a Tempranillo. The beauty is in tasting many wines, spitting them out diligently. Then we're not at a masochism fair, the best ones can be enjoyed again.
Read a little of everything, but especially what bores you the least | Stay away from the cliquey press of wine experts who use fancy descriptors and pontificate every two lines with veiled rhetoric. Life is already too short to drink bad wine, let alone read poorly about wine.
Build your own personal journey | Become passionate about a grape variety, a region, or a wine style, and discover it slowly, without rushing, without using scores as a compass, but by jumping from label to label depending on the occasion, the inspiration, the serendipity, and the latest news. And finally, when you feel confident enough, share your discoveries with others, but always leave room for surprises and new perspectives. Tell your guests how you came across a wine, who makes it, its story, and what memories you have tied to the bottle. In the meantime, refill their glasses.
If you taste a good wine, don't always ask yourself how to improve it. Sometimes let it improve you by drinking it in silence!
Exploring the world of wine can be an exciting journey full of discovery and joy. Remember to approach it with an open mind, be willing to try new things, and always trust your own taste buds. And if you're feeling inspired to start your own wine collection, don't hesitate to get in touch with us or other wine enthusiasts for advice and guidance. With a little patience and dedication, you can create a cellar that will bring you joy for years to come!