Wine World

Wine, wine, wine! My interest in wine has grown as I have gotten older. It was never something offered to me by family but came out of the woodwork as I became interested in food and the "foodie" way off life. During my sophomore year of college, I joined an organization at Virginia Tech called the Sustainable Food Corps. It was the first time I was ever exposed to the notion that food could be an experience, that different tastes, textures and environments could influence mood, health and perception. I remember going over to a club potluck, where not only were there a variety of home-cooked meals that didn't resemble the ever-familiar look and smell of ramen noodles, but everyone was casually sipping wine! Drinking could actually be an activity for responsible and tasteful people?! What a revelation!

I can't say that I immediately converted eating into a cultural experience, however. It was until the anniversary of my 21st year when it clicked. A casually beer with lunch? A wine paired with dinner? The idea that one food could compliment the other and actually make it taste better? And most of all, the true realization that I can drink and eat whatever I want, whenever I want and I get to choose how I feel about it. It was then that I began to experiment with different wines, specifically the reds which I was less familiar. I have found, however, that no matter the number of wines I taste, I forget them almost instantaneously! And that's where this blog comes into play.

I would like to record all the wines that I try from this point into the ever-expanding future to create a visual and written representation of the best, and surely worst, wines available (on a college budget). I've started this week of the right way, tasting 2 different Merlots, a red blend and a Vinho Verde. Although I am paying close attention to the specific flavors of each liquid, I cannot wait to learn more about the regions they come from and the history of wine. It just sounds so damn romantic.

Further, this blog will be a practice run for a more serious blog that I have been planning for some time now. It will focus on cheese, wine, and because I really am a sentimental, love.