I have a wine class next quarter so I decided I would start studying a little early and by studying I mean drinking……weeeeeeeeee!!!!!!! I’m still having a hard time understanding this whole wine thing so I have decided to immerse myself in the world o’ wine.  It tastes fine to me but I don’t understand how people devote blogs, b.s., and incessant blabber about it.

(Cafe Campagne- Lamb Merguez Sausage with Chickpea Puree and Herbs)

Yes, I get it, you opened a bottle of wine and it’s ok but not great but does that qualify you as someone more important than the next person that hasn’t had it?  You have a nice collection of wine, congrats, but why are ruining that steak with A1? Oh wow, you “discovered” a new winery or found a wine that nobody else can get their hands on anymore……Eric pats you on the head and says, “awwww, how cute…you’re excited about something that you have no direct link to”.

(Copperleaf Restaurant- Smoked Salmon “Tartine” with Mandarin Orange Creme Fraiche)

I like wine, I just don’t like what the world of wine has become.  The people I have met have taken too much credit for their wine prowess.  Eric, taste this, it’s amazing!!! Uhhh, ok…… See, I’m just tired of hearing everyone’s opinions about wine. I want to learn for myself!!! Mindy and I had dinner at a restaurant a few months back and we had a wine paired with dinner. The sommelier went on and on about how the wine would bring out the notes of this or that food that we ate and then she tasted it and said, “this makes the nice fish taste fishy, I don’t like it.”  Somehow the wine just didn’t work, no big deal but the sommelier looked at her like she was out of her mind.  This is my problem with the wine world.  I like your suggestion but if it doesn’t work don’t get pissed off or give me weird looks……you didn’t make the wine!! All you did was open the bottle.

(Tulalip Bay Fine Dining-  Asian BBQ Pork Slider with Cucumber Kimchee)

There are exceptions to this whole wine world when it is done right.  The Herbfarm, Waterfront Grill, and Spring Hill nail this wine thing from my very few experiences dining out with wine in mind.  They let the food do the talking then sweep in with a nice wine to accompany it. They treat it like an enhancer to the meal and not the end all says all. They don’t hide behind an impressive wine collection….

I want to figure out how to do this on my own so off to the Food and Wine Experience I went, with a few friends of course.  We sampled wines, food, beer, and I made a pretty nice list of wines I will be trying again.  You will see them here, on this very blog.  If they don’t taste the way I remember then off to “deglazing world” they go! Muah hahahahahahah!

Sorry about the little rant. I’m just a little tired of seeing a million wine blogs talk about the same stuff over and over again. “I just opened a bottle of _____ and it was ________.”  “Here is a lovely bottle of _____ and it has lovely notes of ____, _____, _____, and _____”.  Talk about something when you actually do something.

My goal with wine is to find wines that are easy to drink, not pretentious, and tell a story that is fun to listen to. Wait until you see what I have in store for you wine snobs!

This is a cooking blog, if you’re offended then google “wine blog” and go find a home there.

Eric

Oh what’s that????

Beer, always