The Art Of Wine Conversation
Written by Josh Luman
veryone knows that neighbor, or colleague, or guy at the end of the bar that loves to talk about wine. They try to bedazzle you with sophisticated quips about ‘aromas of this’ and ‘lingering finishes of that’. They speak down to you as though nobody’s palate could be as refined and sophisticated as their own. And yet more often than not they don’t have a clue what they’re actually talking about. They simply like to hear themselves speak and assume that if they spin enough whimsical babble nobody will doubt their superior intellect when it comes to wine. If you feel the need to test your wine jargon bravado do so with somebody equally incessant with hearing themselves talk. The rest of us do not care to hear it!
Wine talk should be fun, not intimidating, not pretentious and certainly not reserved for a scholarly few. When you discuss wine it should be an open and honest conversation. Share how the wine tastes to YOU, not how it tastes to the guy in Wine Spectator or according to the winemaker’s description on the back of the bottle. There is no such thing as being wrong when chatting about wine if it truly comes from your heart and soul. Wine is completely subjective. So if you taste cotton candy or the wine smells like grandpa’s socks to you, rejoice it proudly at the top of your lungs. You’re absolutely right (in your own mind)! When conversing about wine never be embarrassed to say what’s on your mind. You might be surprised that everyone else is thinking the exact same thing as you are.
And don’t forget it’s not only about the taste and smell, but how does the wine make you feel. Does it remind you of a special place or person, a wonderful meal, or maybe favorite vacation spot? The art of wine conversation is as much about the sharing of stories and memories and ideas as it is actually talking about the wine. For most wine enthusiasts the greatest conversations had while drinking wine are never about the wine itself.
Remember, find wine that YOU love, and drink plenty of it!
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