A Woman's Work – Brooke Basically Blogging

“Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection. And it offers a great range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”
~Ernest Hemingway

 
I have a confession to make I was the one who drank wine from a red solo cup. I know ghetto fabulous right? I also only drank white Zinfandel because it was sweet and it was the only wine I could pronounce correctly. I have my ex-husband to thank for many things. Fun memories with the family and our two beautiful children. There is one more thing that I can thank him for and that is introducing me to the world of wine.

My palette was accustomed to white wine only. And I would drink it with everything. Not knowing how to pair my wine with my food. The first thing I did was go to Barnes and Noble and buy a wine book for beginners along with a wine journal. After reading the book I took a trip to Ikea and purchased different glasses for red and white wine. Because there is a difference you know. For the wine opener, I needed purchased a Houdini,  easy to use wine opener. Let’s just say I had a bad experience with the traditional wine opener. Now, I was all set to start my wine journey.

I miss many things about Michigan. One of the things I miss is Trader Joes in Bloomfield Hills. I loved their wine selection and the great prices. That was my one stop shop.
You already know how much I love to journal. So I couldn’t wait to use what I learned about wine to create my keepsake journal. When we tried a new wine I would take a picture of the bottle. Inside my journal I would list my tasting notes. That included the name of the wine, winery/producer, vintage, wine region, price, occasion and my reflection about the wine.

Not only was I journaling about my wine experience. I was also collecting the corks, because I have pinned hundreds of ideas on Pinterest that I will try, one day. When tasting wines I know you can focus on the acidity, grapes, tannin, or the dryness and sweetness of the wine. For beginners like me I focused on using my senses.

I practiced the following tips. Pour your wine in a clear glass, and gently swirl. Notice the color of your wine. A wine with a purple tint is a younger wine.  Next is smelling the wine. Does it smell sweet or fruity? Is the smell bold and overbearing? Or refined and faint? Overtime you will be able to distinguish the difference between vanilla, Carmel and other flavors when you smell wine. Finally, my favorite part is to take a sip. I like to record my first impressions of the wine. Is is smooth, rich, bitter, dry? Also, what flavors do I taste. I like wines that have an equal balance of acidity and sweetness. I am now a lover of red wines, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Crush or a Red Blend.

This is really just an intro into my wine journey. I could talk forever about wine accessories, my trip to Martha’s Vineyard and throwing a wine tasting party, but I will save that for later blog topics.
Remember don’t be afraid to ask for help, wine enthusiasts and sommeliers love to talk wine. Great wines are not all expensive. You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy a pleasant wine with your meal. So the next time you are on your way to a barbecue, girls night out or coming to visit me bring a bottle to share.

Salud

~Brooke