What about the Wine?

Since I am the Mayor of The Wine Bar, I suppose I should share a little about my journey into the world of wine and a little about what I’ve learned so far. 

The Beginning of the Affair

I grew up thinking the best wine was consumed from boxes and jugs (who needed a corkscrew?) and served over ice. 

Tragic, I know.

My mother drank White Zinfandel religiously. And yes, we always had a box or jug in the fridge and when we went out to dinner, she ordered this rosé on the rocks. (FYI: This is a no-no. Whether you like White Zinfandel or not, drinking it too cold masks all the flavor.) Even so, I fondly remember sneaking sips of this light, fruity beverage throughout my adolescence. 

By the time I was seventeen - my palate still too young to appreciate the tannic richness of red wine, yet bored with the sugary blush – I somehow (prophetically?) acquired a taste for white wines. I remember my mother, perhaps in an effort to win over her angst ridden and often petulant daughter, returning from the liquor store with a box of Franzia for herself and a bottle of Ernest & Julio Gallo Chardonnay for me (questionable parenting in hindsight).

Thus my early introduction to wine, philistine as it was.

That Was Then…

While I have clearly been drinking and enjoying wine for several years, my true appreciation of and desire to learn about it came about not that long ago.

I used to adore white, abhor reds and I never really did (and still don't) care much for anything in between. But over the years, my choices have certainly changed. In fact, it is now quite rare for anything but a red to part my lips – this may have less to do with my change in taste than with a gluttonous evening I had with a couple bottles of Chardonnay at the turn of the century...but I digress. 

I write all this to say, I'm on a sort of journey here.  For me, The Wine Bar is the site of this evolving exploration...

Bringing it back to The WB

In anticipation of writing about my first encounters with wine, I thought I would select a wine accordingly. And so, as a nod to the now unpalatable sweet blush wine of my youth I decided to try a red Zinfandel. 

My selection: A 2004 certified organic Clockspring Zinfandel from Amador County, California - the grapes from which White Zinfandel was originally born in the 1970’s were from Amador County in California. Close enough, eh?

It took me a while to warm up to this wine. I was hoping for a bit more drama, but Clockspring delivers a fine, drinkable and well-balanced Zinfandel with a lingering spicy, rich cherry (I wish the taste were as impressive as the aroma) and black pepper finish.