Merry Christmas

My brother is here and we went shopping for our Christmas weekend wine enjoyment. :) Not included here is our champagne we will be having with our brunch, as of yet an undecided label but it won't be anything special - just good quality for mimosas. We will be having Pinot Noir with our Christmas Ham and it is also an unknown label as it is to be brought by others.

For our appetizers and afternoons/evenings enjoyment as we see fit, we have got Hess Mount Veeder 19 Block Cuvee, 2006; Honig Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008; and Stag's Leap Karia Chardonnay, 2007.

Reviews to hopefully follow in a later post.



So I was at my husband's Christmas party a couple of weeks ago, and I found myself wondering in horror whether or not I had become a wine snob. I was not happy with the selection offered and didn't want to have any of what was out on the table. I had spent the day driving and had a headache and was tired and hadn't seen my children all day and I really didn't want to go to the party. A friend of mine said she would go if I would go, and my husband told me that I had to go because "they" had purchased special wine just for me. So, I decided to go. My friend never showed up and the wine was Forest Glen.

Isn't it my prerogative to decide that I don't like a certain wine? Am I a snob for not drinking it when everyone there knows I enjoy wine? I made that mistake at a wedding over the summer - I drank the only wine they had so as not to appear rude and ended up with a monster headache. So, when I was asked at this party why I wasn't drinking any wine, I stated I did not want to have Forest Glen. So, a bottle of Bogle Phantom emerged just for me. That was a much better choice, and I DID enjoy it, but I found myself still disappointed and I possibly slightly portrayed that emotion on my face and/or in my tone without thinking. On the way home that night, I had to analyze whether or not it made me a snob and I had to think about it logically. I determined I was not a wine snob. To reach this conclusion, I started with the following:

1. SNOB (as defined by Merriam-Webster): one who blatantly imitates, fawningly admires, or vulgarly seeks association with those regarded as social superiors. (This is so NOT me.)

2. I then analyzed who "they" were (the ones who were supposed to have wine especially for my enjoyment): two wine cellar owners with good taste and a vast supply to the different wines they drink. Therefore, my expectations were set higher in anticipation of the wine to be offered.

3. The fact that I had already had a long day and was tired and didn't really want to be there to begin with and was basically only going because a "nice" wine was supposedly purchased on my behalf and to not show would have been plain rude.

There you have it. I was just tired and thought there was something special purchased on my behalf other than wine I am already familiar with. In retrospect, I realize that my husband may have misquoted what was actually said as well, adding to my expectations versus reality. It was just an off night and I should have paid attention to my gut instincts and kept me and my tone home.

Then again, if I had to ask if I was being a snob, maybe there was a slight truth to it?!!!

A very Merry Christmas to you and yours. I wish you peace and comfort and an enjoyable wine experience with friends and loved ones and the magic of the season.