This In-Depth Reference Book Gave Me an Entire Wine Education

If you've been around the Words Like Silver ecosystem for a while, you might know that I have this academic sort of fascination with deepening our sensory experiences. It started as a way to channel happiness, when I realized that I loved collecting "the little things" and connecting with the senses. I read about the origins of pleasure, am frankly trash at meditation (so this is my version of being "in the moment"), prefer specificity in books, love niche experts who devote their lives to pursuits, and largely appreciate excellence across the board. So am forever trying to expand my vocabulary in various areas. I'm always trying to articulate and examine my taste across the board.

One of them? Wine.

It makes sense. My mom has a healthy appreciation of wine and is a member of a couple of subscription clubs. (My dad doesn't drink.) It was one of the first "adult" pursuits that really clicked for me, a rite of passage I could be proud of. One day, I woke up and suddenly cared a whole lot about glassware.

My Relationship with Alcohol—

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Honorable mention: I also just love photos of wine.

I'm a bit of a control freak, personally, so am very careful about substances in the fear that they'll affect my brain or intensify a mood I don't want. I'm also a lightweight, so generally can't have liquor. I also get brutal hangovers, so liquor's probably going to just make me sick.

I'm sort of technically allergic to beer (and alcohol as a whole, actually) but ignore the sensitivity for the most part. Wine feels like an acceptable in-between, so it's largely the pursuit drinking-wise that I've put the most care into developing.

Since I work from home, I did realize during COVID-19 that pouring a drink was a way to forcibly distinguish between work hours and off hours. It doesn't even matter whether I have more than a sip, but it's a Pavlovian cue for me to shut my laptop and "turn off." That may not be ideal in terms of number of nights in the week I'm currently drinking, but I don't have a lot in quantity—usually just a couple sips to spatially divide my evening. Thanks to family history, I'll always be careful about this: what headspace I'm in, what role it serves, etc,.

For now: sensory pleasure and routine segmentation.

What I Know About My Taste in Wine

My mom often drinks chardonnay, rosé, and the like. I'm from Florida (so the land of eternal summer) and was first exposed to drinking wine while in Canada in July—so summer definitely dominates my palate.

Red or white? White or rosé, usually. Except for in winter—might have a red for the vibe. Red will make my cheeks go bright pink though; I have a touch of rosacea for sure.

Still or sparkling? I love sparkling beverages, even water. If given the chance, I'll always have champagne. I also always have a bottle on hand for special occasions, including my hopeful "book deal" champagne. (Fingers crossed.)

Dry or sweet? Dry all the way! I can't do sweet. I like crisp and airy.

Light or heavy? Light!

Cost: I'm financially comfortable enough but definitely not a big spender considering I'm a freelancer, so generally keep my wine purchases low in cost. I'm happy to splurge on a bottle for the right family occasion or celebration, but in general, will look for Costco and grocery deals. I'm not a snob about price! With the exception of a $2 bottle that might be so high in sugar that it gives me a headache in a single sip. I've outgrown that part of college, tragically.

Structure: Nowadays, I'm also a fan of a screw top because it's just convenient on the go or if I'm dragging a bottle to a gathering with friends, etc,. I do love a bottle, but appreciate a good canned or boxed wine if I know the quality's there. No shade! I will repurpose a wine bottle I like as a candle or water carafe though, and still very much am in a phase of life in which I pick largely based on the label.

Discovering 'Wine Folly'

When I moved to O'ahu in fall 2020, I sort of experienced the first thrill of getting to fully grocery shop for myself beyond the confines of a college meal plan. Sure, I stocked up on wine at the Kroger in Lexington, Virginia, but the selection was tiny. The Safeway in Honolulu suddenly had actual options for me to explore. Plus, it was COVID-19, so my roommates and I were definitely just having wine nights at home, craving variation—which probably sparked some of this "deepen your senses" curiosity.

I randomly discovered Wine Folly, an online project between a digital designer and sommelier. The graphics were gorgeous and informative. Wine Folly ran this '52 Wines in 52 Weeks' challenge (now modified), which was totally sustainable for me in expanding my vino vocabulary without getting overwhelmed. The book and project would take me through a deep dive on a specific wine varietal—history, region, pairings, ideal cost, you name it. Ideal for my personality type, which thrives on curiosity.

For several weeks, I'd go and pick out a bottle during my grocery run and follow along with the project. I eventually dropped off because I did find my favorites, but the adventure was hugely informative in helping me develop more of a taste for and understanding of wine possibilities.

A wine tasting dinner in Honolulu.

As a travel writer and product reviewer, I've also had the luck and delight of trying a decent number of new restaurants, vineyards, and brands. I've interviewed bartenders, sommeliers, owners, and more, exposed to the sheer mastery they have over their craft. So each touch just intensifies my appreciation for the expertise, thought, and passion behind wine as a craft.

I'm very much still learning, and it'll be a lifelong pursuit. It's not my only passion or even my main one, but I just overall adore any opportunity to learn about a way to make my daily life more vivid and pleasurable. So I'm intensely grateful for Wine Folly for making that initial curiosity much more explorable and accessible.

About The 'Wine Folly' Book

Book: Wine Folly: Magnum Edition by Madeline Puckett, Justin Hammack
Release Date: September 25, 2018
Publisher: Avery Publishing Group
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought

JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER

The expanded wine guide from the creators of Wine Folly, packed with new information for devotees and newbies alike.

Wine Folly became a sensation for its inventive, easy-to-digest approach to learning about wine. Now in a new, expanded hardcover edition, Wine Folly: Magnum Edition is the perfect guide for anyone looking to take his or her wine knowledge to the next level. Wine Folly: Magnum Edition includes:

• More than 100 grapes and wines color-coded by style so you can easily find new wines you'll love;
• A wine region explorer with detailed maps of the top wine regions, as well as up-and-coming areas such as Greece and Hungary;
• Wine labeling and classification 101 for wine countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Austria;
• An expanded food and wine pairing section;
• A primer on acidity and tannin--so you can taste wine like a pro;
• more essential tips to help you cut through the complexity of the wine world and become an expert.
  
  Wine Folly: Magnum Edition is the must-have book for the millions of fans of Wine Folly and for any budding oenophile who wants to boost his or her wine knowledge in a practical and fun way. It's the ultimate gift for any wine lover.
  

At this point, I've gifted this book to several people. I have my own copy in my own kitchen. It's a gorgeous, informative volume that's almost like a coffee table book or cookbook. It's small enough to fit neatly on my shelf, but big enough to feel like a proper reference. Sometimes, I drag it out just to show it off to others, but I can also rifle through it when trying to learn more about the glass in my hand.

I own it in print, but also bought it as an eBook. It's so helpfully hyperlinked across the volume that you can easily jump between various sections to cross-reference anything from the specific country a grape is grown in to the ideal pairing for manchego and why. For its connectivity, it definitely feels like a book that has an entire world in it—some efficient bang for your buck. I absolutely adore it.

I was going to share my favorite wines too after Wine Folly-induced discovery, but decided to save that for another post. For now, have a glass. Order a book, for yourself or a loved one. I promise it will transform your experience for the best.