I Do Know What I Don’t Know about Wine
A friend sent me this article in the New York Times, and it got me to thinking. Not about being a sommelier–because I have had my fair share of the restaurant business, and it’s not in my plans to go back. More so the part about passion for and knowledge of wine and where those two meet.
Back home and among my friends scattered here and there, I am the wine girl. I’ve been known to plan dinner parties around a wine theme, wax poetic about Petite Syrah, and after a long night lovingly stroke bottles that I particularly adore (and sometimes those I only like).
It’s always been a bit of a surprise when people ask me for advice in picking out bottles or to explain what wines age well. Granted, if someone keeps asking questions, I’ll keep answering them, as long as I can. The real stunner, though, is that I now live in the middle of wine country and customers or people I meet still comment on my passion and comprehension when it comes to wine.
I know I have plenty of the first. Heck, I moved across the country to work in a winery, with no place to live and no friends or family nearby. What I know about wine, however, is only the tip of the iceberg. And when it comes to my palate, I have grave doubts about its abiities, which is why I couldn’t be a sommelier in a restaurant anyway–I’m too scared to take the certification test that involves tasting.
Luckily, plenty of info is out there, as long as you have the time and patience to plow through it. For instance, Alder over at Vinography talks about my one true fear of wine tasting notes. I plan to make use of his advice as soon as possible.
While sometimes I think I’ve got people fooled, I would never purposefully try to fool anyone–an issue addressed in the NY Times article. I’m more than willing to admit my flaws. One of them is drinking too much wine, but how else will I learn?
….Farley Walker
tasting notes, sommelier, Vinography
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November 27th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
[...] Farley over at Wine Outlook made some excellent observations about being an expert. In the same vein, I offer up a similar comment about my food knowledge. I am still learning. [...]
November 27th, 2006 at 11:25 pm
Farley,
Thanks for the comments! I’d love a recommendation for the quail recipe I posted a few days ago. It is a roasted quail stuffed with fig jam and pancetta.
Quick reminder: the French warehouse is opening again on Dec. 15th and 16th…see if you can escape the tasting room…it’s worth it!
Take care,
Jenny
November 28th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
You are the wine girl.
They are the wine girls.
I am the walrus.
Okay, so the walrus is Paul. But with all this ugly divorce crap going on, I claim dibs on the walrus.
And with enough of the right (or wrong) wine, a couple of his real high notes, too ;-p
I was actually known as the ice cream boy once. You know, back when ice cream came in three or four flavors, or at least colors, and wine did not come in boxes!
December 17th, 2006 at 10:24 pm
[...] * 3% consider themselves experts. Not me [...]
May 5th, 2007 at 11:09 am
[...] When I went back upstairs to the tasting room, it struck me how easily unscary that was. And I remembered the girl I was when I first got out here and then when I started writing this blog… ashamed of my palate, terrified of tasting notes, fearful to say the wrong thing in front of people who knew/know more than I. There are still times when tasting wine that I hesitate to spout out what I think. But practice helps, and as you, readers and drinkers, probably know–I’ve had plenty since I moved to California. Whether it’s at the winery working on the tasting menu (and loving it when customers voice their agreement with my notes), scribbling in my book when out to dinner, or with my tasting group, each time builds confidence. Heck, I’m not even scared to argue with my winemaking friends about the flavors I get in the glass. [...]