Is a lot of wine appreciation just snobbery?

Question

Thanks Amused Bouche. That was very humble answer. Somehow if you like wine yet know jack all other than it comes in two flavours either cheap or expensive vinegar or cheap or expensive tasty drink.
But you watch some people they seem to use a lot of lingo such as "oooh, I can sense the aroma of oak on a cold crisp spring day with a hint of leather." Who makes this stuff up? Is it to baffle usual drinking people so they feel subordinate and unworthy unable to tell a vintage from a plonk.

kclightman, nice lessons there. Thanks.

Answer 1

Only if they're faking it. I'll give you the skinny:

1) A good wine is a wine that you like, even if it only costs $4.00 a jug.

2) Wine *does* have a variety of subtle flavors that all blend together to make up its taste, but it is hard to discern. I had to have lessons. They give you something to smell and then taste the wine. It helps you pick out the different flavors out of the whole. It helps some people enjoy it more - but if you don't care, don't worry about it.

3) Wine pairings have more to do with the food and the wine complementing, and enhancing, the flavor of each other, rather than drowning each other out or bringing out the worst. For example, if you eat a salad with an acidic (vinegar) dressing, and drink a sweet wine, the wine will taste too sweet and the dressing too acidic. Similarly, if you eat a meal with strong flavors and drink a delicate wine, you will hardly be able to taste the wine at all and may as well drink water. So robust wines with robust foods, sweet wine with sweet foods, etc gives your mouth the opportunity to enjoy both to the fullest.

Now you know everything important about wine.

Answer 2

Wine appreciation is personal. I am studying to become a Master Sommelier as a career path and because I enjoy learning about wine, not preaching it. The nice thing about wine is there is no right or wrong. I have had $300 bottles of wine that I though would serve better a jet fuel, and I usually buy a wine that I like that costs $5 a bottle. Terms like "oakey" definitely describe flavours, and can help someone pair that flavour with a food they like. No one knows "it all" and wine is about making it your own. I do have to admit, people take it a little far, and that appears to be an attempt an snobbery. I say, drink what you enjoy, interpret it as you like and don't let anyone tell you any different.

Answer 3

No there is no bull about describing tastes and aromas of cedar and leather. I am a brewer of beer(soon to try my hand at wine) and even beer shares a lot of these characteristics. I also smoke cigars at times and many of these flavors can be tasted. Coffee people can tell you the same thing.

It takes practice to recognize and discern the flavors. Now I do question some people as just trying to appear sophisticated by choosing wine over beer. I have drank some very exsquisite beers. Also some of the terminology that usually is redundant from one wine to the next tends to give away those that are not in the know.

Answer 4

Don't let it be so! Don't let anyone tell you that the wine you like is crap if you are truly enjoying it and contributes to the enjoyment of your meal and the company of those around you. Certainly, there is a great deal of one-upmanship amongst wine buffs. Just don't let that discourage you from learning about the fascinating world of fine wines.

If you can't pick out the notes of trampled autumn leaves and bacon fat in the wine you're smelling, you're not necessarily wrong. Trust your impressions.

And fine wine doesn't need to be expensive or exclusive in order to be well made and enjoyable. So many times, I've seen a twenty dollar bottle outshine another wine ten times more expensive.

Cheers!

Answer 5

The most important lesson you learn in the wine business, is not to be a snob. Different wines appeal to different people, even flavours give different impressions. The sommelier I work with reccommended a Marsanne to me I tried it and hated it. To me it tasted like blowing up balloons, nasty. The sommelier tasted latex gloves and liked that funky flavour.

Depending on the circumstance I just as happily enjoy a $10 Primitivo as a $100 Chateauneuf-du-pape.

Answer 6

Not with me...I used to hate wine til I learned more about how to drink it with different foods. I also live in wine country, so there are lots of wineries and you can learn alot by visiting them, along with meeting alot of fun people.

Answer 7

No, its an art!

There is so much to learn, and there are no true experts!

It's a fun hobby that has a bad reputation!