Let’s stop taking wine so seriously!

There is just way too much pomp with wine! Pomp as in pompous! Let’s add some irreverence! Let’s question the way it is “supposed to be done.” You will need to think differently to better understand what wines you may like. Hopefully, it will lead to wines you love.

**Here we have the pomp.**

Pomp and circumstance may have its place, sometimes. Looks too serious though.

**Here’s the color and the irreverence!**

Let’s toss those caps! Let loose! Have some fun!

I would have said to lose the pretentiousness, but even saying that sounds pretentious. The goal is irreverence, and just focusing on enjoying the wine.

How should we add irreverence?

Well, you could wear hats and toss them while drinking wine, but that will only take you so far. You should feel free enough to think for yourself.

You should start with being irreverent about 3 things:

Aroma
Taste
Price

Let’s mention first that wine has an image problem!

Let’s be honest.

When people describe a person as someone they’d like to have a beer with, there is an image you get. Now replace “have a beer” with “have a glass of wine.” Totally different image.

Let’s grab a beer relaxed scenario.

Have a Bud!

This is your “have a glass of wine” friend.

Clearly this image is over the top, but you will not see that image with a bottle or can of beer.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we can move on. Relax! Don’t be intimidated! Feel free to decide in your own way what you like!

Let’s talk aroma:

The stereotype of what you think you have to do:

Many people think you have to sniff and swirl and say things like “I smell leather” or “it has hints of violet”. Worse yet, the descriptions of “cat pee” and “diesel” are real ones! Even worse, those words are not negatives! Ugh! Unless you are trying to identify a wine blind (really simply put, you must identify a wine without knowing what it is at all), or are at a formal wine tasting, there is no need to do this. (Helpful hint: if the words diesel or petrol are used it is an older Riesling)

The better and irreverent way to think about smell and wine:

Have you ever gone into a restaurant and the smell just makes you want to drool? You get excited about what you are going to eat or order. The food may not live up to it, but the anticipation and the positive expectations are there. It adds to the experience.

**Can’t you just smell that and want to dive right in?**

**That looks so refreshing!**

I hope it smells and tastes as delicious as I hope.

In neither of the above cases, would I want to worry about identifying specific aromas!

The aroma should add to the enjoyment. While I almost always try to breathe in the aroma of the wine, I do not try to put a name to everything. If the spaghetti and meatballs smelled great, I wouldn’t try to figure out what kind of garlic was used and where it was grown. If the wine smells great it shouldn’t become a test to name exactly why.

You will want to find your own words to describe the wines. You won’t want to describe it so specifically that only you understand, however. Saying the wine smells like the water skiing boat you used that summer on the lake, is probably not going to help you in the long run.

Fun fact: In China, the aroma and taste descriptors we use, are not helpful. They have their own. Check out The Wine Show to learn more.

You will be able to smell the wine better, however, if you swirl the wine a little. The aromas will be released when it meets oxygen. You don’t need to call out every smell you recognize, though, unless that makes for more fun.

Some wines are more expressive with their aromas, and it is great to have that and anticipate deliciousness. If you can’t smell anything, it could be the wine. It can still be great, but the aromas are not as expressive. For instance, aromas are more obvious for Riesling, sauvignon blanc and gewürztraminer. Chardonnay can go either way.

Some people get a much clearer idea of the aroma when they swallow the wine. Not to be too technical, but it is called retro-nasal should you want to throw that tidbit around.

I am extremely impressionable with identifying aromas. If you smell it, I will too. While some people are quite gifted with identifying aromas, some people just make stuff up. A friend of mine told me that when she and her husband went to a winery, her husband kept listing random aromas. People around him agreed with it, while the professional sat there stunned.

I had originally planned a very simple discussion of aromas in wine, when I fell down a rabbit hole of bouquet versus aroma versus smell. Then there are primary aromas and tertiary aromas. There is no way I am going to get into that. Most nonprofessionals use these interchangeably. Let’s not get tripped up with technicalities.

You want meaningful tools to find more wines you can love. You want a helpful vocabulary.

Let’s talk taste:

Stereotype of what you think you have to do:

The same applies to what was said about aroma. You’ll see the same stereotype exists that you have to do and say something specific when drinking wine. You don’t have to do anything.

It does help to hold the wine in your mouth for a bit so you can get a sense of all the flavors. However, you do not have to go overboard with this, unless you are in a formal wine tasting. Really. Don’t be the one who acts like gargling is required.

The better and irreverent way to think about taste:

Ignore the awards and someone else’s point system to blindly determine whether the wine is “good.” Those are marketing tools! Feel free to decide what is delicious for you!

For me, drinking wine often comes down to:

Do I like it ? (YUM!)

Or do I not ? (YUCK!)

Maybe just meh.

There is also so bad I am making a face. It’s a gut reaction for me, unfortunately. I really don’t want to insult the winemaker should I be at a winery.

The best level is above yum. Let’s call it: I really really need this wine in my life. That makes it 2 positives and 2 negatives with a meh in the middle.

But this is my shorthand, and it works for me to a point. You need to develop your own irreverent grading system. DO NOT RELY ON SOMEONE ELSE’S WHETHER THEY ARE A PROFESSIONAL OR NOT!!

Once you have your own sense of what you like, try to figure out what it is. It took me years to realize that my favorite reds are what is known as fruit forward. I love the flavors of dark berries.

The best way to learn is to taste different wines. Having a few side by side is the best way if you can arrange it. Notice the similarities and differences.

Comparing wines may give you the vocabulary you need to express yourself when asked that impossibly open ended question: What do you like?

Let’s talk price:

Stereotype of what think you have to spend:

If you are reading this blog, you already know that spending more does not give more value. It is beyond disappointing that some people believe that the more expensive the wine, the better it is. I will not insult you by going further into this embarrassing belief.

The better and irreverent way to think about price:

After you have decided whether you like a wine or not, you decide what it is worth to you. Of course, if you’ve already purchased the wine, it’s a done deal. But decide if it is worth buying again.

Value is subjective.

I will not spend over a certain amount on a bottle of wine retail. Period. As the price goes up, your expectations should too. You should decide what that amount is for you. Finding a wine that punches above it’s price point is the best. Read over my post on Why you should be in love with wines from Trader Joe’s.

I love to buy delicious wines under $10, but I also have a love for wines from Sonoma. I definitely spend more than $10 for them. However, I still will not go over my personal price limit because I am very frugal. However, you do you.

Certain wines deserve to cost more because of the care and cost of putting out a great wine. Many wines cost more simply because of supply and demand. You pay a premium because the wine is chic, or the area has a “reputation.” (Eye-roll here.)

Be irreverent!

Question the common “wisdom.”

Wine should be fun and add to your life.

First of its kind guide on how to love and appreciate wine irreverently