I have always had a love for wine. I got it from my mom. She and her girlfriend have their own wine cellar (closet) in their house filled with bottles on bottles that they’ve collected from different wineries they’ve visited over the years. Due to their love of wine, I’ve probably visited more wineries than the average 22-year-old. I am from Loudoun County, Virginia, which is home to more than 50 wineries. I’ve visited many of those with my mom as well as with my friends, but the one I visit the most frequently is Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, VA. My mom and her girlfriend are members and so every month they get a free tasting accompanied by a “bite” which I tag along to. This has helped me explore different types of wines (besides whites, which I already knew I was a fan of) and learn about what types of foods pair well with each type.  

Their love of wine has even inspired me to visit different wineries and wine bars when I travel with my friends. One notable experience was this past summer when some of my friends and I visited Napa Valley while we were on a national parks road trip. We didn’t intend on going there, but the lookout point we originally decided on for that day while we were staying in San Francisco was a 5 hour drive because of traffic when it was originally only supposed to take an hour. This inspired our spontaneous decision to visit Napa. On the way there, we called multiple wineries to try and set up a tasting, not considering that it was in fact the wine capital of America and that you need to book tastings weeks, if not months in advance. Unfortunately, we were unable to secure a spot anywhere so we decided to just stop by the closest winery where we could just buy a few bottles and sit out in the sun to enjoy them. We ended up getting a few different white wines (I don’t remember specifics) and some cheeses to accompany them and it turned out to be one of the best days of the trip, despite all of our plans being turned upside down. 

I’ve also had some practical experience with wine. I have worked as a server at 3 different restaurants, including a restaurant at a country club and at a restaurant with a formal dining room. From these experiences, I have encountered plenty of wine snobs and have had to learn a lot about different types of wine, some pairings, and how to properly present and pour a bottle when I bring it to a table. These experiences have also forced me to learn how to use a wine opener under pressure while holding the bottle, which is difficult for a freshly 21-year-old to learn on the spot. What I hope to get out of this course is a deeper understanding of different wine-food pairings, as well as hopefully an expanded pallet. I already know that I like white wines, specifically Riesling and Vino Verde, but I am hoping that this experience forces me to venture into reds and maybe even give me a deeper appreciation for fortified wines (which in my experience thus far are disgusting).