Beyond Kool-Aid

For most Americans our journey of wine begins someplace around the Boones Farm, Annie Green Springs location. For any of you reading this column who do not remember these very important names in American wine history you may of heard of Ripple or White Zinfandel? All of these “wines” had pretty much the same taste profile,with the emphasis on a sweet more like Kool-Aid taste then anything referencing any "real wine" taste characteristics! This was to appeal to the generally less than sophisticated American wine palate and these wines were wildly successful for sometime.

And for those who did not begin in the Kool-Aid wine zone you were definitely a tad more sophisticated with your jugs of Gallo Burgundy or Chablis. I remember my parents always had a big jug of both they used mostly for cooking but they would have a glass of wine or two each week, always the Burgundy and would enjoy it immensely. It was not uncommon for the kids in my family to have a small glass of wine with our parents at the family dinner table. Through the years as my parents budgets increased so did their wine selections and sparkling wines and more sophisticated wines were served to us at the family dinner table. With European parents, wine in my family was looked upon as part of any special meal and the
weekend was always time for a bit more consideration in both the food and wine department.

So by the time I was twenty, I had passed through the jug wine stage with my parents and had come out the other side hooked on Napa Valley Cabs and Sonoma Country Zinfandels (and yes a real Zin is red not pink!). As my husband says I have never looked back! But I do think my experience is somewhat unique and does not illustrate how most of us in this country get introduced to wine nor the progression of most Americans wine journey.

And the journey for most Americans begins well after the age of twenty one and parallels the fads and trends of our very young wine country. It seems one year it is Merlot and Chardonnay and the next Pinot Noir and Syrah. How exciting that we have all these wonderful choices and for those of us lucky enough to live on the west coast we are not far from areas producing this wide variety of different wines. We are no longer limited to Burgundy or Chablis and if anything it may be we have too many choices and end up a bit confused. Or maybe worse, we become a bit overwhelmed and intimidated so stay in our comfort zone and get into a wine rut. Regardless of where you are in your very unique wine journey, if you live here in the Umpqua Valley you can find many local wines to enjoy. We have an array of varietals being grown and made and we have numerous talented wine makers all with different wine making styles. If you are one of those who finds yourself a bit confused or overwhelmed or your wine journey is not taking you on much of a trip, take action. Get out and taste wine as often as possible. Make sure to taste wines you think might be out of your comfort level and push your taste buds envelope just a bit. Ask questions. With our family owned wineries, we have an accessibility to the wine maker not found in most wine regions. Take advantage of that. And trust me....The pay off will be oh so sweet and I do not mean like Kool-Aid!