“More important than the food pairing is the person with whom you drink the wine.”
– Christian Moueix
+ My grandparents were never big drinkers, but Nana always had some Sutter Home White Zinfandel in her fridge, just in case somebody stopped by.
One evening when I went over to see them, they invited me out to the balcony, and brought out a bottle of the familiar rosé. Papa poured me a glass, asking, “Tell me, do you know anything about wine?”
I remembered an article I’d seen recently, and started to mention something about rainfall, but quickly trailed off … Papa had an impish twinkle in his eye, a sure sign that a story was on its way.
“Nana and her two best friends went out to a restaurant last week, and there was an hour-long wait to get a table. So they decided to wait at the bar, and told the bartender they weren’t particular about the wine, just wanted something light.
“By the time their table was ready, the three of them were all laughing, having the most wonderful time together. They couldn’t believe a whole hour had gone by – and they all agreed it was the best wine they’d ever tasted. As they settled their tab, they asked what the wine was, because they wanted to go right out and get some.
“Well, the bartender went and brought back the bottle to show them. And would you believe it – it was the very same wine that Nana drinks here at home, here on the balcony!”
Experts can always weigh the merits of different vintages, or argue for the ideal wine pairing. But at the end of the day, Nana & Papa knew the real secret for choosing the very best wine: a flavor that you enjoy, in company with people you love.
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