Hey there, and welcome to my wine blog! I was first introduced to the world of wine many years ago within my family. My uncle is a wine fiend who always knows the perfect wine to pair with any meal, and my Italian grandmother wouldn't be the same without her daily wine indulgence. To me, wine has always been something to be celebrated and it offers me a sense of comfort and community. Nothing beats a good glass of wine at dinner with the family. I have enjoyed wine for as long as I can remember, but I know I have just barely grazed the surface of the whole world of wine. I'm excited to learn more and try new wines!
As far as wines go, I do have a few preferences. For whites I tend to select a Pinot Grigio, which I can enjoy either on its own or with pretty much any food. Back home I recently tried a dry Riesling made by our local wine guy at Bacchus Winery, which I thoroughly enjoyed. For reds, the family favorite is traditionally a medium-to-full-bodied Mendoza Malbec. We also recently tried an Amarone from Bacchus Winery, which was so complex and paired exceedingly well with lamb. I tend to enjoy red blends as well, and I had the fortune of trying an awesome Super Tuscans red blend that I won in a class last semester. I haven't tried many sparkling wines, but my favorite so far is Cava. In general, I usually prefer dry wines to sweet wines. I also feel that a little oak is effective in wines, but too much oak can be overpowering. Finally, while traditional corks are nice, I firmly believe in screw caps and boxed wine.
Before last semester, my wine knowledge and experience was limited to family dinners and infrequent outings with friends. I was able to try some excellent wines last summer on a family trip to Tuscany, but I could not tell you who produced them nor what grapes were in them. Last semester however, I took a Winery Tourism course and a Viticulture course for my minor in Viticulture. I learned a lot about grape varieties and grape production up through harvest, as well as a little about the major wine regions in the world and the winemaking process. I also experienced my first wine tastings last semester and had a lot of fun. My interest in wine and enology was definitely stimulated by these courses, and I hope this Geography of Wine course further enhances my interest in the subject. I want to learn more about the wine regions in the world, as well as more about local wines and how I should go about buying and trying new wines here. I also want to learn more details about the winemaking process from this course. As a biochemistry major, the science behind winemaking fascinates me, and I can see myself working as an enologist at a winery someday.
Thanks for reading, and here's to an amazing semester of learning, living, and loving wine!
