Fruit of the Vine, Part II

Wine tasting is a big deal in California. I am sure everyone has seen the happy cow/happy cheese commercials, and I am surprised no smart marketer has thought up a happy grape/happy wine tagline. Now that I have stated that, I guess I should be on the look out, although I would dare to say that the behavior I have observed at wine tastings has been serious to the point of grave. Giggling cows do make for happy cheese. The winemakers I have met don't seem to be the type to giggle.

The Rev. and I attended a wine tasting last night sponsored by a local organization. We usually don't attend affairs such as these, but we were invited and it was free. FREE! All the wine tasting we wanted to do, FREE! As an added benefit, several local restaurants sponsored food tastings, FREE! Heavenly shrimp scampi, mushroom pizza, sushi, several Mexican restaurants, fondue, and a Hawaiian grill that made a smoked chicken worth writing about. There were a few wineries that we recognized, and we discovered a few new ones. It was nice to be able to nibble and sip, and talk to some of the winemakers. They didn't giggle.

The organization had all of the wine tasting in the middle of the room, with food vendors around the perimeter and some sprinkled outside. There was also a jazz band and a soulful blues/funk band who were good, but really loud. It became obvious to me last night that I have am getting older. I must say the most enjoyable part of the evening was people watching. Older couples nodding to each other as they sipped their glass of red and murmuring that it was too young. Younger women teetering in heels clutching their glasses of chardonnay. The beleaguered champagne rep. who didn't have a drop left at the end of the night. The best was watching everyone dance. Sad, sad, sad. I know my strengths and I know my weaknesses. I don't dance for a reason, but I cannot begin to describe the couple who had been huddled together inside discussing the bouquet on the 2003 Pinot Noir TRY to dance outside. Arms flapping and legs flailing, they shook their thang for all the world to see, alogn with everyone else who had downed 27 glasses of wine and just felt the need to show the world their stuff. I just turned to The Rev. and said, "This is evidence that overeducated, stuffy people should not demonstrate any attempt at rhythm." He offered to get me another glass of wine.