Paris, France
Across the pond, I can see that the smoke from countless barbecues is beginning to clear, and the echo of fireworks still rings in the air. You celebrated freedom yesterday — freedom to eat too many hot dogs, drink that extra beer, stay up late.
But here you are, the day after, contemplating your choices (and possibly nursing a headache). Perfect time to talk about wine, right? Why not? I thought I might just share some random thoughts today.
I get a sort of Pavlovian response to the satisfying clink of two wine glasses meeting. That sound is the prelude to an adventure, a story, a moment of connection. It can also be a reminder that if you don't drink in moderation, you lose the pleasure and joy of what you're drinking. So keep it cool, keep it classy. While in my opinion 4th of July celebrations can have the air of a frat party, a good wine night is more of a thoughtful exploration.
Just like that first bite of a hotdog or burger yesterday, you know there's some pleasure there, some joy. And that's everything. You won't have a second bite if there's no pleasure in it. Wine is just like that! It's meant to be enjoyed, to bring a spark of delight to your day.
But while I have many wine opinions, I never want to tell you what to taste. That's your journey, your discovery. What I want to do is inspire you to embark on your own vinous adventures.
Wine without mystery is just alcohol, a mere intoxicant. But talking about wine’s essence and the ephemeral tastes that surround it is when the magic happens. I honestly love it when I forget where I got a bottle, and make guesses and invent stories of its origin, or when I have the bottle in my hands and it transports me to a different time and place… Never try to demystify it completely.
When we write to you about a wine, we're like treasure map makers: we give you the X marks the spot, a few landmarks, maybe a cryptic clue or two. We paint a picture of the place, introduce you to the winemaker, and give you a sneak peek of the wine itself. But the real adventure is all yours. It makes it fun! Brings curiosity back to the table. So let each wine keep its secrets, revealing them to you slowly, one glass at a time. It's like America itself — complex, sometimes contradictory, always intriguing.
Here's a kicker about USA alcohol law: as a wine club in our writings we're banned from saying that things give you pleasure or joy when it comes to wine. I thought the 21+ rule was enough, but apparently, words are dangerous too. It's like we're sliding back to the Victorian age. Next up: exposed wrists when we raise a glass will be taboo. Try describing a good wine without using "pleasure" or "joy."
We all taste differently, and our careers or life experiences shape how we interpret the wine we drink. It's like we're all looking at the same painting, but describing it through the lens of our own unique experiences. A musician might describe a wine's acidity as "sharp like a high note on a violin," while an engineer might talk about its "structural balance."
Imagine you're sitting with friends. You bring out that Tacana Malbec Reserva you've been keeping for a special occasion. As you pour, the rich, dark liquid swirls in the glass, releasing its bouquet. You take a sip, and someone says it's overwhelming, too strong. Another chimes in, saying it’s more complex and delicious than anything they’ve tried. But who cares about the differing opinions? It's really about this moment. Friends and wine go together like fireworks and the 4th of July. It brings us together, strips away our pretenses, and lets us be human.
This is why we created our Wine Explorers Club. While your local stores are limited by big importers, we bring wines directly from the source. Will's travels in Argentina sparked a question: "Why can't we drink these amazing wines in the USA?" Now, we're on a mission to share these hidden gems, expanding your palate beyond the usual suspects. It's about rekindling that sense of discovery with every bottle.
We need to share wine with more people, invite friends, bring family together. That's the nicest thing about wine – it's a social lubricant, a conversation starter, a reason to gather. There's nothing like having a glass of wine and getting a gut feeling, an emotion, an inspiration. It's never easy to put wine into words, but it's always fun to try.
So on this 5th of July, as we recover from our celebrations, let's raise a glass to freedom, to independence, and to the unalienable right to enjoy a great bottle of wine with great company.
In vino veritas, in America libertas.
Diego
P.S. And hey, I want to hear from you! What stories did your wines tell this 4th of July? What memories did you uncork? Send me your photos and stories at explorers@bonnerprivatewines.
