The Language of Wine

'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world' – Louis Pasteur

In every corner market, small town grocer or convenience store a museum is hidden in plain sight. The best works of art wait to be discovered, tasted and enjoyed.

Tasted? Art? You bet. Where can you find this secret oasis, dripping with philosophy and creative genius?

Look no further than the wine aisle.

Wine, with all its paranormal powers weaves a heady spell. Magic in a bottle. Maybe that's a bit of a stretch but if you're a wine lover, you know exactly how addictive wine really is. Wine possesses the ability to tell a story to those that will truly listen to what it has to say. Whether you choose a red or white wine, (champagne is also considered wine!) eloquent sips convey an emotion like no other beverage. Whisperings of the vineyard where the grape ripened to harvest on Midsommer's Eve. Maybe that fruity sensation that nibbles on your tongue heightens your senses and you understand the winemaker's secrets?

Uncork a bottle to unravel an unique tale. Can you actually taste the soil where the grapevine was planted? As we explore the language of wine, we'll uncover a hidden world - exquisitely complex, emotional - and swimming in nuance.

While wine cannot actually speak with sentences and words in the conventional sense, it definitely has something to say. We only have to be patient and listen. Not with our ears, but with our hearts and taste buds. The translation of wine can take a lifetime to master, however once you immerse yourself with the vocabulary of wine, you begin an epic journey to be fluent in its love language.

Wine making is art. In every aspect.

“Wine is the only artwork you can drink” – Luis Fernando Oliverri

There are ten thousand varieties of grapes used to make wine. Red or white grapes, some are native and others are a type of mixed root or hybrid. Every winemaker has their tried-and-true favorite kind of grape to ferment. Some recipes have been tweaked and changed over the years, the end product a result of time and doting perseverance, perfected in generations.

In every bottle of wine, an artesian vision has come to life. The winemaker's craftsmanship has definitive qualities, born of a combination of intuition and experience. Just like the painter prepares their canvas, or a writer takes up pen and opens a journal, the winemaker lovingly nurtures their harvest into the art of liquid poetry. Here's what poet Percy Shelley wrote about wine in 'The Vine Shroud'

Flourishing vine, whose kindling clusters glow

Beneath the autumnal sun, none taste of thee;

For thou dost shroud a ruin, and below

The rotting bones of dead antiquity.

There are so many kinds of wine, the list of options is truly endless. I decided the best way to explore this article was to conduct extensive research. In the name of art! I have made these sacrifices so you, dear reader, can understand how universally intoxicating wine truly is. Beyond including my tasting notes, I categorized each wine blend to a literary genre (or subgenre) that I think best explains what to expect flavor wise. Here they are, in order of personal preference.

Merlot - seductive with hints of black cherry, raspberry and plum. With a complex and earthy taste - merlot is the perfect choice for Romance.

Pinot Noir - similar to its Merlot cousin, you'll find red fruity tastes, but also vanilla and baking spices if it's been aged in oak. With the extra layers of flavor, I'll classify my glass of Pinot as Mystery.

Syrah - intense flavors, of unexpected mixtures of plum and tobacco, no better choice for Fantasy.

Sauvignon Blanc - Pungent, exotic and tart, the taste really bites your tongue, so I'm going to pair this one with Science Fiction.

Chardonnay - smooth and fruity, with hints of caramel (how the hell does a grape taste like caramel?) leaves me no choice but to label this variety as a Suspenseful Thriller.

Did I overshare my likes and dislikes? What does your favorite bottle of wine say about you? The winemakers want to know.

E. & J. Gallo Winery (Ernest and Julio Gallo) commissioned a survey of 2,000 adult, active wine drinkers in March of 2023. The survey was focused on adults who drink wine regularly and looked at the personality differences based on respondents’ favorite style of wine. The data found that those who enjoy red wine said they’re introverts (48%), while respondents who enjoy sparkling wine, are the most likely to be outgoing, identifying as extroverts (40%).

Talk about a valuable insight on date night.

SWNS Digital put together this informative graphic to further demonstrate preferences.

What's interesting about this is that I do generally prefer a glass of red wine. In line with this research, I am a dog lover (and owner) love the outdoors and I would classify myself as a creative. However, I am not an early riser, and I would definitely define myself as an extrovert. Perhaps wine holds some secrets of its own? Sagittarius was not included in these stats so I have no idea where I stand, astronomically speaking. Sidenote: notice that 47% of respondents in this survey replied that writing is a creative outlet, while 36% of those surveyed said drawing was their preferred form of creativity. That's a whopping 83% total (in this sample size) of creatives that are wine drinkers.

Wine is big business. Once winemakers harvest the grapes the real fun begins with the aging and fermentation process. Next comes the art of presentation for the product that's been so lovingly nurtured. Also known as the wine bottle.

The marketing for each blend of wine truly has no limits. Winemakers pay big money to have their product introduced in a manner that aligns with their vision, that speaks to the consumer in an evocative manner.

Enter the art engineer. I met Brad Canfield through a mutual friend of mine, and this title is exactly what he is. Once based in Saint Helena, the heart of Napa Valley, Brad works full time and freelances with wineries and designs bottle art. I asked him what he likes most about his career. Brad said, and I quote 'Wine is a remarkable industry full of very passionate and creative people. Wine is art at every level. From the farm to the lips, it's beautiful.'

Here's one of Brad's latest wine bottle designs for Sklar Wines located on the North Fork of Long Island New York. Their first release is a Rosé and a Chardonnay.

I'm sure you'll be able to find it in your convenience store museum later this summer.

Author's notes: This article was inspired by playing around creating Midjourney AI photos, while drinking wine of course.

Cheers!