Wine in 2021 -- 10 Challenges for You

For the last none months plus a little bit, I've used my imagination and a little bit of knowledge to help those of you who have been reading to explore the world of wine. We've been to all seven continents and tried nearly 100 different grapes (perhaps more than 100, but I haven't counted). For some grapes, we've tried them in multiple parts of the world and seen marked differences. We've branched out beyond our wildest dreams.

In 2021, I want you to do that in real life. No, I'm not suggesting that you go to McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica to drink wine oe even that you attempt to find a bottle of that particular Vidal Blanc. But, I am suggesting that you experience wine that you have not previously.

So, here are 10 challenges for you (if they get tacky toward the end, it's because I picked the number 10 and ran out of steam):

  1. Have a wine from each of the six continents not called Antarctica.
  2. If you drink predominantly red wines, try a white grape that you never have previously and conversely.
  3. Drink your red wines cooler than room temperature and drink your white wines warmer than refrigerator cold (if you need a simple way to get a room temperature wine close to the proper temperature, for a red wine, put the bottle in the refrigerator for about 7 or 8 minutes and for a white wine, wrap it in a wet rag and put it in the freezer for about that same amount of time).
  4. Try drinking different vintages of the same wine side-by-side. The differences might really surprise you. But, don't do it with a really bad wine please.
  5. If you haven't already, try a Kirkland brand wine (Costco's house brand). As the world's largest wine retailer, they carry enough leverage with their house brands to get superior quality at excellent prices. They are worth it, and for full disclosure, I do not own stock in the company.
  6. Try pairing your wines with your food to enhance both.
  7. Work to understand what you are drinking and don't just guzzle it.
  8. Toast 2021. I can't speak for you, but I have had all of 2020 that I can handle and then some.
  9. Share a bottle of wine with someone with whom you disagree politically. Talk about the wine, not about politics. You'll find a common bond.
  10. Dhare a bottle of wine with me.

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