My Challenge: Turn Yourself On

As I journey down the path to finishing my sommelier training, I want to learn more, share more and most importantly… DRINK more!

So, I’m holding a series of wine tastings with my friends.

My friends all have varying degrees of interest in wine- some are only social wine-drinkers and are happy as clams with the cheap and cheerful choices, while others are quite knowledgeable, with more sophisticated palettes.  It doesn’t matter- everyone is invited!

This is NOT about being a wine snob… This is an opportunity to try some new wines, and learn about what we’re drinking in a ‘safe’ environment.

So many people seem to be afraid of wine.  My hope is to change that… one sip at a time.

My strategy is a little game... and my only rule: Turn your senses on. 

Like I’ve said before, wine can be many things… intellectual, cultural, spiritual even, but most of all, it’s sensual.  Obviously it engages our sight, smell and taste, but what about touch, sound, and the rest of our body, mind and soul?

So here’s how it works- we will do the mandatory swirl, we will observe the colour, and then we will close our eyes… taste, smell, but more importantly- FEEL.  There is no judgement.  I want to hear words, colours, memories… anything.  In the same vein as a Rorschach inkblot, just say the first thing that pops into your mind.  Everyone will respond differently.

I don’t want hear words like oaky, off-dry or full-bodied… I want people to use their OWN words!  Swirl, smell, sip, and open up your senses!  This is less about dissecting the logistics but about inspiring the soul- a focus group for the senses, if you will. 

What do you taste?  What do you smell?  Let the wine inspire you- a moment, a memory… an emotion.  Not only should we learn to properly pair wine with food, but what about with an experience?

I challenge you to do this the next time you have a sip… don’t just smell or taste, but close your eyes and breathe it in- do you smell a lake house in the woods, or a taste a hot summer afternoon.  Open up your senses to the whole experience, and you will open up to the world of wine.

Shall we drink to that?