What exactly makes a wine enthusiast a "snob"?

Question

We hear the term all the time, but the exact definition seems kind of vague and shapeless. Beyond merely insulting someone, what do you really mean when you call someone this?

I'd like to hear from both people who are knowledgeable about wine and people who aren't, for different perspectives. And by all means, feel free to psychoanalyze and speculate on the other side too!

At the same time, I ask you to also ponder, what makes someone who is knowledgable and/or passionate about ANYTHING a "snob" about their given interest (what makes someone a widget snob rather than a widget lover, when does love of widgets become combative or divisive)?

If mere knowledge of a subject is snobbery, then every damn one of us is a snob about something, so then what's the point of labeling someone a snob?

Actually my question was inspired after reading someone ~else's~ question, where many responders accused her of being a snob; I felt the accusations were warrantless, got peeved, and voila, asked this question lol.

Answer 1

Excellent question.
As it's currently the tail end of grape season, we get a ton of winemakers and wine enthusiasts coming into our shop, and I get to talk to quite a few people that I would consider wine snobs.

You're a snob if:

1. You believe that your opinions about the taste and quality of wine are fact. (They aren't. They're your perceptions, and the opinions of others are just as valid.)

2. You consider those who don't share in your opinions as beneath you or unworthy of your respect. (People perceive different tastes in different ways and have many levels of sensitivity to certain flavors. Some people just aren't going to like the same things that you are...it certainly doesn't make them unworthy of respect. Tastes are completely subjective.)

3. You automatically dismiss wines based on price, region, etc. (There is a lot of art to winemaking. I've had completely undrinkable wines that were sinfully expensive, and great wines that I paid under $10 for.)

4. You honestly feel that you know so much about wine that trying to learn more is a waste of your time. (A friend of mine has been making wine for 25 years. He recently graduated from UUC Davis with a degree in wine. His first comments to me about it were 'I thought I knew something about wine. I knew probably about 5% of what I thought.' An enthusiast knows that there is always something about the subject that he/she has yet to learn. A snob is too busy telling others their about vast knowledge to bother trying to find that 'little bit' they don't know...besides, if it were really something important they would have discovered it long ago.

Generally, I think if you have the presence of mind to ask yourself 'What's really a snob, and am I one of them?' then you probably aren't.

Answer 2

Let me tell you a true story. It has happened many times. Maybe it will let you know what a wine snob is. I use to work in the wine trade, combination of retail and wholesale. I constantly ran into (usually) elderly ladies that didn't know much about wine and asked for my help. The most usual question was "Is this a white wine?" and they had a red wine in their hand. If I were a wine snob, I'd have just said "Sure" and left it at that. Instead, I gently explained the differences on their level to where they actually learned something from someone who enjoys helping people learn about wine. Just because people are ignorant does not mean you have to have an attitude about it. I guess that is what separates wine snobs from enthusiasts. Wine should be a joy to share, not a chore.

Answer 3

I agree with the answer that relates to price. Many of the wine experts I know state that the best wines are not necessarily the more expensive ones. So when I go out wine tasting, and I refuse to spend $40 for a bottle, and I get that "turned up" nose from the proprietor, I consider him to be a wine snob. I think it comes more from an inappropriately elevated attitude rather than an increase in intelligence about the subject.

Answer 4

Quite a little rant you have there! Sounds like someone accused you of being a snob!
I became interested in wines about two years ago and have since become a bit of a connoisseur, (whatever the hell that means). I suppose what elevates someone to the level of "snob" is when they want everyone to know and appreciate how good they are, like when they lord it over people or make people feel inferior because of their lack of knowledge.
Btw, I don't know what a widget is but I intend to google it as soon as I'm done here!

Answer 5

I think someone becomes a snob when they become more concerned with brand/label rather than what tastes good. If someone turns their nose up to a $10 bottle of wine without even tasting, I say they are a snob.

Answer 6

I like wine but don't consider myself a snob since I don't drink the stuff exclusively. I have a love for all types of spirits, so I started drinking wine out of curiosity and the need for something new. You know...try all the varieties..find my favorite? I think that's mainly what "wine enthusiasts" do, which isn't any different than the average person trying the varieties of whiskey or beer...

Answer 7

I can't say that all wine enthusiasts are snobs, because they aren't, but I can say that I've met several of them that are snobs. It isn't knowlede so much that causes them to be labled as snobs fairly often as much as it is turning their noses up at average wines. The only thing that annoys me about wine tasters is when they spit wine out at wine tastings, that seems really odd to me.

Answer 8

Just wanted to give a big "Thumbs Up" to jkk109's answer.
Sums it up quite nicely.

Similar situations apply in the beer/homebrew arenas.

Answer 9

You can consider being a snob better then being a wino !

Answer 10

When he starts sniffing at people instead of the wine.