Today, we trashed the 2017 calendar and hung the 2018 calendar in its rightful place on the kitchen wall, a ritual cleansing of sorts. Flipping through the crisp new pages with their attractive and seasonal photos, I felt inspired to do something I’ve shunned before – create a list of New Year’s resolutions.
Uh, oh. That’s a perilous undertaking, right? How many well-intended resolutions get lost in the day-to-day minutia of daily life? Or they’re just plain trite. Drink less. Exercise more. Be mindful.
I hope to avoid these pitfalls.
So here it is: My 2018 wine resolutions. Let it be a year of learning and discovery!
- Savor. Too often, I rush around and barely have time to cook a tasty and nutritious meal, never mind sitting down long enough to truly savor the food and wine I’m serving. In 2018, I resolve to eat and drink differently – to examine the wine closely, as I would in a wine tasting, and even to take a few notes if the wine seems memorable. In other words, to let wine be my mindfulness teacher. Wine is well suited to the job.
- Learn the culture of at least one new wine region. During this past year, I’ve read multiple posts on newly popular Croatian and Bulgarian wines and the ancient and illustrious wines of countries like Georgia and Greece. It’s time to take a deep dive – as deep as the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board will allow (sigh). My goal is not only to taste, but also to broaden my knowledge by researching the viticulture and winemaking practices of these notable wine regions.
- Tweet! Take part in the conversation. In the wide, wide world of wine, a dedicated cadre of like-minded individuals is sharing the latest findings on news and trends, either through experience or research or both. I’d like to learn from others and participate more fully as an active member of this community. Find me @linda_lbwcsw.
- Read at least one new book on wine. I’ve chosen Bianca Bosker’s Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste. Recommended by Michael Austin of the Chicago Tribune.
- Experiment. One of the many pleasures of wine is to experience how it changes the flavor of food, or vice versa. Pairing food and wine is both art and science. I love learning the still-growing science of taste and perception, and definitely want to experiment by trying various food and wine pairings in 2018.
- Be brave. Be bold. Speak out. Increasingly, responsible vineyard and winery owners are recognizing the need to become environmentally sustainable through organic farming methods, reduced use of pesticides and herbicides, and water conservation. I hope to support and draw attention to these practices, and add my voice to the growing call for action to save our threatened planet.
- Forgive myself. Forgive others. OK, not about wine. But honestly, the world could use more love and forgiveness. How about it?