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#MWWC10: Value
This is my entry in this month’s wine writing challenge; a friendly competition with an ever growing group of wine blogging friends. The theme this month is “Value”. Want to see some other entries? Visit the #MWWC blog!

The World as We Know It
80% of the people who drink wine pick something up at the store, and drink it that day.  They enjoy wine, but that’s the end of it. They might be swayed be a high scoring wine for a low price at the shop, but that’s it. And they could care less what any wine writer or blogger thinks.

For the remaining 20%, there seems to be a battle of right and wrong, my preference or yours.  Wine Spectator, Robert Parker, or New California Wine, anti-taste elite.  Whatever happened to celebrating the wide variety of wines available for those of us who care to pay attention? I’m continually surprised by the amount of time wasted to try to divide the world into us vs. them.  Who needs it?

My own personal preference leans toward small producers of food friendly wines from around the globe. If you have a different preference and you come to my house, I’ll do my best to open a wine you’ll enjoy.

My Vinous Values

1. Everyone deserves to have their own opinion of wines they like.  Vive le différence!
2. Wine is meant to be shared with friends.  Sometimes, we might be lucky enough to make new friends through a common interest in wine.
3. I enjoy searching out small producers, especially those with whom I can enter a personal relationship.  See #2 above.
4. My personal taste tends toward wines considered to be food friendly, lightly extracted and hardly a hint of oak.  But that’s just me.  What do you like??

What are my vinous values?  Sharing, meeting new friends.  (click on any photo to start slide show)

Marcus and Gaironn at Matello during punchdown

William Allen at Two Shepherds, tasting at 9:00 am

Visiting Rob McCormick at Memaloose

Dixie, our tour guide of the vineyards at Mistral Ranch

New wine loving friends in Minneapolis

Alex at Unti Vineyards

No barriques in sight!

Chuck Kanski, Twin Cities Rosé evangelist

Perfect companions: wine and food

Susan Larossa, one of my first winery friends

Barriques? No!

You choose the point of focus

Pulling corks with Jean-Louis and Erin Chave

Nicola, our favorite young Barolo winegrower