THE QUEST FOR THE BEST

I am often asked, “what is the best wine?” The answer is simple: There is none. As the famous quote (that I just made up) goes, “Those that await the greatest wine to fill their glass will forever hold an empty glass”. There are, of course, technically made excellent wines – wines pressed from exceptional quality grapes & vinified by the most expert winemakers. Their wines can be celebrated by critics and awarded a bevy of international honors, yet none of it matters one sip… if you don’t like It or appreciate it.

Wine appreciation is an exploration. It is also intensely personal. The arc of understanding wine comes from years of tasting wines, absorbing the interplay of its sensations of taste, texture and aroma with your senses and your sensitivities. For all that you and a cohort of wine explorers might experience, you will all arrive at different favorite wines along your journey because of the inexplicable variables of personal taste and preference. One person’s forgettable wine may be another’s most cherished. There is no single “best” wine -just the best wine for you. And even that is simplistic because as you evolve in your appreciation you will develop a trove of favorite wines for different seasons and occasions.

There are elements of the wine experience that are not quantifiable, but which unquestionably impact our enjoyment: environment, company, and occasion. Human psychology is a “crazy” thing; the places we drink wine in, the people we drink wine with, and the occasions we drink wine for all impact our impression of wine. A favorite bottle may end up being a simple wine you drank at a milestone event, or a bottle shared with someone special, and not necessarily because of its compositional excellence. The greatest wines in life will always find a way to reach your heart after passing your lips.

At every stage of your wine experience, there are great bottles to enjoy. Be confident in what you like and don’t be intimidated by people who seem to know more. In the end, wine is meant to sanctify life and to elevate its joys. Our blessing should be to always enjoy wine b’simcha, in joy, to appreciate “what’s in our glass” today, and for our glass to overflow with the blessings of good health, loving family & cherished friends to celebrate great moments and share the “best” wines with until ripe old age.

Welcome to the journey.