Wine, Wine, Wine

I am passionate about wine in a fun, casual way.  I love to try new wines.  I love to travel to wine country.  I love to watch movies about wine (if you haven't seen it, Bottle Shock is awesome).  I love to shop for wine.  I love to talk to people about wine.  I, though, am not a wine snob.  Far from it. The truth is I don't know enough about wine to be a wine snob.  But I do know enough to match food with wine, to pick out a special bottle of wine for a special occasion, and to drink wine out of a Riedel wine glass.  What more does a person really need to know?  I keep a wine journal (name, year, cost, and where I bought it) and I rate my wines.  My rating system is very simple.

1. Can't or Won't Drink
2. Drinkable in an Emergency
3. Pretty Darn Good
4. Awesome!

I am willing to spend a little money ($50 is probably my upper limit - and not very often) on a special bottle of wine for a special occasion.  I am sometimes willing to spend as much as $9.99 on an everyday wine (if it is on sale and worth it).  But I mostly prefer to be in the $5 to $7.49 range.  I don't think you have to spend a lot of money to get a decent bottle of wine. Trader Joe's is a great store to find inexpensive bottles of wine.  I am 10 hours from the nearest Trader Joe's, but when I travel, I always stop in and pick up a few cases.  I, of course, then record them in my wine journal.  When I go back, I know what to buy and what not to buy.  By drinking less expensive wines on an average day, I appreciate a special wine and a special occasion even more.  

I have friends that drink the same wine all of the time; have for years and will for years to come. There is nothing wrong with that.  If you really like something, great, no need for change.  But I love change.  There are so many wines and so little time!  Cheers.