Originally posted on an old website in July 2017.
Taste is subjective, and therefore divisive.
’Tis true, dear friends. In a world divided, not even wine can unite us.
And I suppose that’s ok. It would be rather boring if we all loved the same styles and varieties. The problem is when subjective turns to assholiness. That’s right, assholiness.
The easiest example of this is Miles’ hatred for Merlot in Sideways. He was prepared to up and leave if they opened a bottle of Merlot. Quite assholy if you ask me. But that’s fiction, so let’s use an example that I’ve been experiencing lately: Itata.
Not long ago, I professed a newfound love for Chile’s Itata Valley. I’m living right beside it and generally loving their wines. As my passion grows, however, so has doubt. Doubt from hearing others knock it down…
I love Itata’s fruity, fresh wines with character. But others see them as rustic attempts that will never be able to run with the big dogs. I was with one winemaker recently who dismissed Itata as a fad.
To each their own, but the air of superiority that this winemaker employed to lift up his wines turned me completely off from his highly-awarded juice. So that makes taste even more subjective because we also have to consider influencers!
Where am I going with all this?!
Unfortunately, our lives are full of ethnocentrism, xenophobia, misogyny, racism, etc. Why bring something so lovely as wine into the disaccord? Don’t be a winogynist!
A winogynist is a person who believes that their wine tastes and knowledge are superior and drinks with an air of assholiness. I made this up, but it makes sense, no?
Taste.
Own it. (Which is to say, don’t let others make you doubt what you dig or dislike.)
And most importantly, don’t be an asshole.
Discuss, share and all that jazz, but don’t take a superior tone to your taste. Just drink your wine and enjoy!
