Comments on: What is Wine Anyway? http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/ Experiential wine education and real conversation over a virtual glass of wine Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:14:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Swirling Notions » Wine & Words Roundup Week #2 http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-3020 Swirling Notions » Wine & Words Roundup Week #2 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:17:00 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-3020 [...] got nada from our own this week. So I bring you the words of author H. Warner Allen, which back up my own feelings about how the context within which we enjoy a wine contributes as much to our experience [...] […] got nada from our own this week. So I bring you the words of author H. Warner Allen, which back up my own feelings about how the context within which we enjoy a wine contributes as much to our experience […]

]]> By: Swirling Notions » The Feast and the Flu http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-968 Swirling Notions » The Feast and the Flu Thu, 22 Nov 2007 22:17:35 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-968 [...] mascarpone pie (I’m on a ROLL . . . I think pumpkin is good for me) all ready to slice. “The Eloquent One” and his wife are awaiting us at their house with a pre-feast amuse bouche of fresh-shucked oysters [...] […] mascarpone pie (I’m on a ROLL . . . I think pumpkin is good for me) all ready to slice. “The Eloquent One” and his wife are awaiting us at their house with a pre-feast amuse bouche of fresh-shucked oysters […]

]]> By: Swirling Notions » A Hallowed Harvest http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-767 Swirling Notions » A Hallowed Harvest Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:16:55 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-767 [...] friend of ours shared at a harvest party last year. He, (the one who posted the eloquent comment on What is Wine Anyway?), shaped some of his thoughts on the season around the letters for HARVEST and it got me thinking [...] […] friend of ours shared at a harvest party last year. He, (the one who posted the eloquent comment on What is Wine Anyway?), shaped some of his thoughts on the season around the letters for HARVEST and it got me thinking […]

]]> By: A Hallowed Harvest « Swirling Notions http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-766 A Hallowed Harvest « Swirling Notions Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:42:49 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-766 [...] friend of ours shared at a harvest party last year. He, (the one who posted the eloquent comment on What is Wine Anyway?), shaped some of his thoughts on the season around the letters for HARVEST and it got me [...] […] friend of ours shared at a harvest party last year. He, (the one who posted the eloquent comment on What is Wine Anyway?), shaped some of his thoughts on the season around the letters for HARVEST and it got me […]

]]> By: Bobbie http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-765 Bobbie Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:18:19 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-765 We have a pewter wine bottle coaster that someone gave to us as a gift long, long ago. Around the rim, it says, "A dinner without wine is is like a day without sunshine." Okay, a little corny, but... kinda says it for me. We have a pewter wine bottle coaster that someone gave to us as a gift long, long ago. Around the rim, it says, “A dinner without wine is is like a day without sunshine.” Okay, a little corny, but… kinda says it for me.

]]> By: lia http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-764 lia Fri, 21 Sep 2007 23:03:10 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-764 Hi Patrick! Great to have you here! I completely recognize you, and was thinking the other day that it's been a while since we've bumped into each other. Kind of funny that now we bump into each other in cyberspace, then. And if you only knew how much I adore ketchup (and Dry Creek Fitz can attest to this), you'd understand how much I love the metaphor of wine as a condiment to life. Fabulous. Hi Patrick! Great to have you here! I completely recognize you, and was thinking the other day that it’s been a while since we’ve bumped into each other. Kind of funny that now we bump into each other in cyberspace, then. And if you only knew how much I adore ketchup (and Dry Creek Fitz can attest to this), you’d understand how much I love the metaphor of wine as a condiment to life. Fabulous.

]]> By: Patrick http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-763 Patrick Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:58:46 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-763 A fellow Healdsburger with the unlikely moniker of Bob Cappuccino once shared an old Sicilian adage with me, "Wine is the ultimate condiment". That rang so true to me that I have actually let it serve as a touchstone to guide me in how I make wine, how I appreciate wine, and how I have come to perceive all these discussions we are now so very blessed to have about wine. What is a condiment? A unique ingredient - interesting or prosaic - that when added to something in just the right amount, serves to enhance one's enjoyment of it. Wow. Isn't wine just that? Whether enjoyed at table, among friends, while cooking, or for some quality downtime, it is rarely all about the wine. It is about the experience, the story, the moment. All of us who are foodies and winos can attest to having that moment of clarity when we taste the "perfect pairing". We also have the face-scrunching "Bleech!" experience when we know that we had best enjoy our water with a certain dish. Of course, these are extremes. It is our daily bites and our daily sips (or swigs, depending on how bad the day was) lend that necessary comfort or stimulus that keeps us going. I could also take the condiment metaphor further into "spice of life" and "Heinz 57", but I might have a hard time remembering that this is a comment, not a post!!! Lia, I am a new fan. You may not recall my face, but we are casual "bump-into-each-other & talk-about-the-kids" neighbors. Imagine may surprise when in my usual link following from blog-to-blog, I stumbled upon Swirling Notions and your website. There went my afternoon! Congrats. I look forward to much more. A fellow Healdsburger with the unlikely moniker of Bob Cappuccino once shared an old Sicilian adage with me, “Wine is the ultimate condiment”.

That rang so true to me that I have actually let it serve as a touchstone to guide me in how I make wine, how I appreciate wine, and how I have come to perceive all these discussions we are now so very blessed to have about wine. What is a condiment? A unique ingredient - interesting or prosaic - that when added to something in just the right amount, serves to enhance one’s enjoyment of it.

Wow. Isn’t wine just that? Whether enjoyed at table, among friends, while cooking, or for some quality downtime, it is rarely all about the wine. It is about the experience, the story, the moment. All of us who are foodies and winos can attest to having that moment of clarity when we taste the “perfect pairing”. We also have the face-scrunching “Bleech!” experience when we know that we had best enjoy our water with a certain dish. Of course, these are extremes. It is our daily bites and our daily sips (or swigs, depending on how bad the day was) lend that necessary comfort or stimulus that keeps us going.

I could also take the condiment metaphor further into “spice of life” and “Heinz 57″, but I might have a hard time remembering that this is a comment, not a post!!!

Lia, I am a new fan. You may not recall my face, but we are casual “bump-into-each-other & talk-about-the-kids” neighbors. Imagine may surprise when in my usual link following from blog-to-blog, I stumbled upon Swirling Notions and your website. There went my afternoon! Congrats. I look forward to much more.

]]> By: lia http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-759 lia Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:03:52 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-759 Maureen, not only does that make sense (it makes SO much sense), it pretty much articulates my mission for Swirling Notions too. The name came from that very idea; that as you pour yourself that long-anticipated glass and swirl it about, it isn't just the qualities of the wine that are unleashed, but thoughts and conversation and laughs as well. That's the side of wine that I wanted to bring to Swirling Notions. So thank you, all of you, for being kindred spirits on that quest. Maureen, not only does that make sense (it makes SO much sense), it pretty much articulates my mission for Swirling Notions too. The name came from that very idea; that as you pour yourself that long-anticipated glass and swirl it about, it isn’t just the qualities of the wine that are unleashed, but thoughts and conversation and laughs as well. That’s the side of wine that I wanted to bring to Swirling Notions. So thank you, all of you, for being kindred spirits on that quest.

]]> By: Maureen http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-762 Maureen Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:19:43 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-762 I like the interpretation that Chris had, and would say I feel quite the same. Although I can't translate as eloquently. Wine is my evening form of coffee in the am. (If that makes sense.) Just as I look forward to the taste and aroma of a good cup of coffee every morning, I look forward to a great glass of wine in the evening. I look forward to swirling my glass, paying attention to the nose, as I lift the glass to my mouth, and lingering in the taste. To me, it says work is over, it's time to enjoy food, family and leisure. I like the interpretation that Chris had, and would say I feel quite the same. Although I can’t translate as eloquently.

Wine is my evening form of coffee in the am. (If that makes sense.) Just as I look forward to the taste and aroma of a good cup of coffee every morning, I look forward to a great glass of wine in the evening. I look forward to swirling my glass, paying attention to the nose, as I lift the glass to my mouth, and lingering in the taste. To me, it says work is over, it’s time to enjoy food, family and leisure.

]]> By: lia http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-761 lia Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:11:55 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2007/09/18/what-is-wine-anyway/#comment-761 Chris . . . That is beautiful. I'm going to tap you for a guest post one of these days. And, stay tuned for more on the revel front. Meta . . . You are so very welcome, and thank YOU for joining the conversation. I love your sentence, "It is the stain of salutation and a very deep connection with tradition and history." How lovely. You have a beautiful blog yourself, by the way. Thanks for sharing. C'tina . . . Fitz is pretty amazing, isn't he? I'm impressed with YOU, though, wielding wine along with blades and fire. You go girl. Isn't that book fabulous? I take great pride in the fact that my friend's son's (Cole) version is covered with smudges and caked with random bits of food. I'm so glad you and your kids are enjoying it as well! Chris . . . That is beautiful. I’m going to tap you for a guest post one of these days. And, stay tuned for more on the revel front.

Meta . . . You are so very welcome, and thank YOU for joining the conversation. I love your sentence, “It is the stain of salutation and a very deep connection with tradition and history.” How lovely. You have a beautiful blog yourself, by the way. Thanks for sharing.

C’tina . . . Fitz is pretty amazing, isn’t he? I’m impressed with YOU, though, wielding wine along with blades and fire. You go girl. Isn’t that book fabulous? I take great pride in the fact that my friend’s son’s (Cole) version is covered with smudges and caked with random bits of food. I’m so glad you and your kids are enjoying it as well!

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