“We are born at a given moment, in a given place and, like vintage years of wine, we have the qualities of the year and of the season of which we were born. Astrology doesn’t not lay claim to anything more.” – Carl Jung
More often than not, the concept of vintage (wine made from a specific year) is lost in a label or, perhaps, lost in the love of a label. All too often, the object of our affection disappears into yet another vintage, or worse – the end of the bottle.
Like the final glass of Montrachet, Saint Julien or your favorite Oregon pinot noir, we must carry on in our pursuit of our next great love. Whether we are consumers, aficionados, connoisseurs or professionals, we all are in search of the perfect wine. But the reality is, it simply doesn’t exist.
Perhaps this is what keeps us thirsty in our search for the impossible – trying new wines from different appellations, different vintages, different styles. This is where the true joy of wine comes from, sampling new things with or without food.
Sometimes, what was once was a favorite and iconic wine will no longer hold its sway. As I’ve traveled this cork-riddled path, I’ve learned that the world we live in has an abundance of wine to offer, and settling for just one favorite is simply not enough. We need favorites for many occasions – New Year’s, Thanksgiving, Christmas, your 20th anniversary or your birthday. (Salud!)
The most commonly asked question: What is your favorite wine? It is impossible to say, because there are too many factors to consider. What day of the week is it? What’s the weather? Who will be there to share this amazing wine? What’s for dinner? What kind of mood are you in? A barrel of questions. Most importantly though, what do you like?
It is your wine professional’s job to ask the right questions and help to find a suitable wine for you. The beauty of our diverse personalities and tastes is that we have an astronomical quantity of wine at our disposal, to find an ideal match.
The world of wine can be overwhelming, especially those confusing European labels. It takes years of studying, deciphering and tasting these foreign appellations to attain a fundamental understanding of the parallels between New World wines and their European ancestors. Aside from a few hair-pulling episodes, it is an adventure in pulling corks, filling glasses, taking notes and ultimately sharing time with friends and family.
In the coming weeks and months, this column will travel the world of wine and explore the endless facets that make up this divine nectar. Together, we will dive into the subjects of sustainability, components of wine, food pairing, bubbles and value wines. (Thankfully, the discussion is endless.)
And then just when you think you’ve got it, another delightful vintage will find its way to your dinner table.
Alan Cuenca is an accredited oenophile and owner of Put a Cork in It, a Durango wine store. Reach him at info@putacorkinit.org.
