Years ago, before wine apps on cell phones became commonplace, I told wine peeps to take photos of the wines that they enjoyed. The problem as I saw it was that we remember a label, whether or not we liked the wine. Then, once at a store, we would maybe spy that same label, pick it up, and then the pondering would start: Did I like this one?
To this day I still recommend the photograph method. It’s simple. But, for those of us that truly want to remember our experience, you also have to jot down a few things.
Jot it Down to Remember
Note what you are eating, so that you can duplicate a great pairing. If you enjoyed that great dessert wine with a wedge of Stilton Blue cheese, you may want to pick that up as well. Or try other creamy/sharp cheeses to see if the experience is just as pleasant.
Did you have company? Were you at a winery? If so, note that, as it may have heightened the experience. I’ve written about this before: if you enjoyed the wine better at the winery than you did at home it may be “buyer’s remorse” so the best thing to do is to duplicate the experience at home. Invite some pals over and make a new celebratory event – right at home.
Is it the same vintage year? Unless you are buying a supermarket staple, like say a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, the vintage year makes a difference. Consider that the winemaker, or things like the weather, may have changed. So note the vintage year of the wine that you want to buy again.
Jot it Down to Learn
Did you learn something about wine today? Take notes on things you’ve read or heard. The simple act of writing something down will help you to remember it later. You never know…you just might be a budding wine blogger. (Note: We take guest posts!)
Are you going to a large or small tasting event? You can easily jot down a few notes when you meet a wine rep or winemaker. And the added benefit, they will respect you for it. The experience will be much more rewarding for you both.
Do you have some other suggestions on how to make a wine experience memorable? Comment on this post or shoot me an email: Eve@EveWine101.com
Eve’s Wine 101 Event Picks: Beekeeper Cellars Dinner 10/20 and 10/21, Santa Clarita Oktoberfest in the Spiegeltent 10/21-22, STARS of Italian Wine 10/26, Cab Fest 10/30, J Lohr Wine Dinner at Newhall Refinery 11/2, American Wine Society Conference 11/3-5, Sunset in the Vineyard 11/6, STARS of Cabernet 11/9-10, Barolo and Brunello 11/12, Paso Garagiste Fest 11/11-12. Ongoing: Events locally at Reyes Winery and Eve does Wine Themed Parties.
Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com
