This week has been a tasting extravaganza! I attended 3 of NYC's largest distributors fall tastings this week and a Wines of Germany tasting. Thousands of wines to choose from. It is important to be in the right frame of mind when attending these; that is not always possible. Some are so crowded that when I walk in it makes me want to "pull the covers over my head"; but I just take a deep breath and push on. I like to look through the book and strategize the wines that I definitely want to taste. Coming up with a game plan is key. It is also a time to see your fellow wine friends, so there is definitely a social element to these tastings. Focus is the goal.
After a week like this, one is reminded about how many excellent wines there are in the market today and just how much the world of wine has expanded in the last 15 years. What is it that really makes a wine stand out? What makes a wine highly sought after? This is a complex set of circumstances and marketing is part of it. For me I definitely respond in a visceral way to wines that speak of the place where they are from. It is a highly competive market, a true embarassment of riches. That is a good thing for we wine lovers.