Wine’s Pleasures: Are They All in Your Head?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/07/dining/07pour.html?_r=1%26oref=slogin%26partner=rssnyt%26emc=rss%26pagewanted=all

by baha_man • 18 years ago

6 2 18 years ago

nytimes.com

bridgetroll• 18 years ago

Anyone for Cuivre Reserve Château Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga?

http://www.phespirit.info/montypython/australian_table_wines...

rkowalick• 18 years ago

While not a wine drinker, I do love beer and bourbon a lot and I thoroughly agree with a lot of this article.

A year or so ago, I spent a lot of time on beer rating sites like beeradvocate.com. You read about beers with high ratings and beers with low ratings. Ratings are stupid! There are plenty of very highly rated beers that I can't stand, and plenty of poorly rated beers that I really love. There are exotic, rare, extremely expensive beers that can do no wrong, and there are typical, everyday offerings that many scoff at.

Long story short, I stopped looking at ratings. I make my own decisions about what I want to drink. I know what I like better than any other person. Taking suggestions from people is fine, but subconsciously basing my approval of a beverage based on the average opinion of several thousand people is ridiculous.

Context is also extremely important as well. A thick, heavy stout that rivals the alcohol content of most wines is a terrible thing in the blistering heat. I also can't drink several extremely hoppy beers with food. Hitting on the ideal beer for the mood you are in or the food you are eating is far more important than a seemingly universal rating system for quality. There are plenty of highly regarded beers I can't see being enjoyed with my favorite foods. There are beers I absolutely love the first time and can't stand the second time, and visa versa.

In short, buy beer or any beverage with an open mind. Try something new or follow your instincts. Whatever the case, don't let anyone tell you how much you like something.

Wine’s Pleasures: Are They All in Your Head?

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