The Wine Leading the Blind: Am I a Snob?
I’ve heard many a fellow wine lover refer to the “wine that did it,” the wine that got him or her hooked. Ultimately, it was the wine that catapulted the person to another plane of wine appreciation.
For many, this plane is often the point of no return. I’ve heard a lot of “after I started drinking [insert name of “wine that did it”], I couldn’t go back to drinking bad wine.”
The point of no return often involves spending more money. One who once was satisfied with a bottle in the $10-$20 range now spends upwards of $30 for a Tuesday night bottle without blinking an eye.
I knew I was in danger of sliding down that slope when I recently found myself in wine store before a party, buying not only a bottle for the host but also a few for myself, as I couldn’t bear the thought of drinking rot-gut wine to start my evening.
The thing is, there is truth to the concept of palate evolvement. Few people start their music appreciation at a level that involves chord structure and leitmotif; it usually involves some sort of visceral “I really bleeping liked that.” Those who care to learn more about the makings of such music will get their hands on anything they can to reproduce the initial, visceral experience. They will learn the intricacies and nuances of the pieces they love, inevitably stumbling across pieces they hate along the way. In order to avoid more of what they dislike, they continue their studies, ultimately gravitating toward that which they know they will enjoy.
The same holds true for wine. If you’re spending money on it, you damn well want to enjoy it. The more you learn about wine, the more your palate picks up on subtleties and character, and the more you’ll learn to expect from what you drink. It doesn’t make you a snob — you’re simply honing your taste so you ultimately know exactly how to describe your favorite wines, and seek them out.
Just don’t forget where you started, and know that not everyone is at the same point in his or her wine appreciation journey. If you find yourself in the circumstances I did a few weeks back (where you contemplate BYOB-ing it because you know the host doesn’t have a penchant for fine — even drinkable — wine), consider a compromise. Buy a few reasonably priced bottles that you can unpretentiously offer to your hosts and their guests as a way of expanding palates without offending tastes. Everybody wins. And save the real good stuff for you and a fellow “snob.”
Whatever. I still drink Bud Light out of a can. I ain’t no snob.
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By Lauren McNally
Lauren B. McNally is a New York based consultant and freelance writer who spends most of her free time exploring culinary and oenological pursuits with friends. She originally hails from Maine and graduated from Bowdoin College,spending time abroad at the University of Cambridge in the UK (where she found the dining hall cuisine rather offensive and repulsive, as opposed to the top-ranked Bowdoin Dining Services). Her palate is ever-evolving but Burgundies are among her current obsessions. Her least favorite wine-related phrase: “I don’t like _.” Lauren also enjoys cooking Italian and French cuisine, and has an unnatural obsession with Gorgonzola and pancetta.
About The Humble Gourmand
The Humble Gourmand is published the first Friday of each month, edited by Alison L. McConnell, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. It is designed to offer straightforward lessons and advice to aspiring cooks, oenophiles, and all other eaters and drinkers.
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dave caprera
October 3 11:11 a.m. 1Good observations. I had dinner one night with one of the most knowledgable wine experts I know at a place called "Italian Village" in the Florida Keys, a pretty mediocre restaurant in a very nice setting. Anyway, he ordered the house Chianti. He is definitely someone who thinks nothing of the $30 a bottle Tuesday night special. When he ordered the Chianti I thought, "wow, I wonder whether he dumps the glass on the waiter's head." But instead he tasted it seriously, thought about it a bit and said, "This stuff probably retails for about $5 a bottle, but is decent enough that they might be able to get $8 or maybe even $10." It truly was an expert's observation. A real wine lover doesn't have to be a snob.
Fp3
October 4 11:53 a.m. 2The word snob has such a negative connotation, that in this world of food network and culinary education, I truly believe that this education to what you like or palate evolution by no means makes you a snob. A wine enthusiast will drink about any wine to educate themselves to it whether they like it or not. Just like music, you listen to some of your favorite musicians on new records and either you like it or don't. Can't change the grapes but you can change the label, and unfortunately that changes the price tag, but if you love wine the price means nothing to the enjoyment of your favorite wine. And yes Budweiser is best drank out of a can.
escott
October 10 12:27 p.m. 3In my experience, the smaller and more family-run the restaurant, the better the house wine. Not sure why, but even if it's cheap or unknown, in these tucked-away restaurants the management knows their menu so well even the cheap-o wine goes great with the food. Best exmaple for me, the house wine at my favorite little Italian place in DC, Bistro Italiano.
Lauren
October 26 3:19 p.m. 4All great points. The concept of learning about and appreciating good wine (irregardless of price) is often misconstrued as snobbery or affectation. True wine lovers should appreciate good wine without a glance at the price tag. And yes, Emily, I too discovered the beauty of carefully chosen house wines at small, family-owned Italian and French restaurants.