My “Aha!” Moment with Wine

As a wine educator, I often ask guests if they can point to an impactful wine experience that increased their interest and appreciation for wine.  My personal “aha” moment occurred back in 1993 when my wife and were living in London.   I enjoyed wine back then, and I could name some of the classic varietals and regions, but I was never motivated to expand my palate.  That changed one night when we had dinner with a family friend, Phil, who was visiting from California.  We settled into a charming French restaurant in Covent Garden called La Stamine.

Phil appreciated wine, and he needed little time to select a 1982 Chateauneuf du Pape for the table.  A Granache-based blend from the Southern Rhone, this wine was full bodied with aromas and flavors with generous fruit, earth, herbs, toast, and spice.  It had good acidity and structure, and it was a perfect complement to the decadent lamb cutlets on my plate.   For the first time drinking wine, I noticed an amazing array of flavors with depth, intensity, and harmony.  Amazing, remarkable, aha!  I was also fascinated to learn a little about the history of the Chateauneuf du Pape region, and the local Papel residence which contributed to the quality and the reputation of the wine.

Suffice it to say, my experience with Chateauneuf du Pape challenged me to seek out new wine regions and styles.  Wine education is indeed a wonderful thing.   It’s where drinking wine and studying are the same activity!

Do you have an “Aha!” moment with wine?  Tell me about it!