As we travel from winery to winery, sometimes we taste the same wines and at other times we taste different wines. What we are seeking during the wine tasting are descriptions of the wines. Frequently we find the same characteristics in the same wine but at other times we discover different characteristics. This is because tastings are influenced by several things including but not limited to the number of taste buds one has, previous experiences, the setting, etc.

What shocked me one day was a tasting of a sparkling wine. My first taste brought back memories of a celebratory glass of wine I had when I was young. “Yuck,” I wondered why would anyone want to drink this?” In my notes, I reflected on this bittersweet moment. A few minutes later my husband tasted the wine and thought it was great. He proceeded to tell the winemaker how good it was. I was amazed. Normally I like sparkling wines/champagnes but not this one.

At another winery, the same type of situation happened. I tasted an almond sparkling wine from Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula Valley and even though this is several months later, I still remember the “Wow” factor. The almond with the small bubbles made it an outstanding wine for me. Not so for my husband though. Although he likes almonds and Champagne, in this instance he did not care for the combination. He preferred the Grand Cuvee Champagne that was crisp and refreshing.

Hmm, maybe another reason for us to return to Temecula Valley.

Peoples likes and dislikes are different. Enjoy what you like!

Cheers, Kathy