The Age of Enlightenment
Almost twenty years ago now, when I was living in NYC, a friend of mine worked as a writer for a prestigious national magazine. She used to get invitations to book readings on a regular basis and -- me being an avid reader -- she would often invite me along. One such event was the launch of a book about wine, written by a rather dapper gentleman from the West Coast named Dennis Overstreet. At this point in my life, I was living in a teeny-tiny 5th floor rent-controlled walk-up studio apartment and could barely afford $1 happy-hour beer at the seedy bar across the street. Buying a nice bottle of wine from a fancy wine shop wasn’t even in the realm of possibility, so the wine book itself didn’t interest me too much. But my friend told me that we would be Tasting Wine *FOR FREE* at this reading, to which I quickly said “I’m in!” as any type of free booze was manna from heaven in those threadbare days.
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| Overstreet's New Wine Guide, 1999 |
The event was at an exclusive cigar bar/club in the penthouse of a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper. Thinking back now, I am sure I was woefully underdressed (but in my head I was très chic, a hipster before that word became common). Dennis came out and starting talking about wine, and much of what he said was literally a foreign language to me. He was so excited to tell us about wine and why he was so passionate about wine and sharing how brilliant wine can be that he actually started JUMPING UP AND DOWN with enthusiasm. Whoa, hold on. I looked around at my fellow attendees and laughed nervously. Was this guy insane? He was sure acting like it. What a kook! Would we like to try some Champagne, he asked. I remember thinking “bleh, not if it's that awful Cold Duck stuff from New Year's.” Dennis pours what he said was his favorite Champagne: Krug. I took my first sip, and…. well, it was like an epiphany. The choir started singing, angels were playing trumpets, the clouds parted with golden rays of sunlight, the whole shebang. Ah ha! So THAT’S why Champagne is so famous! THAT’S why Dennis is jumping around like he’s on a pogo stick! THIS is why people drink wine! EUREKA! And so began my journey into the wonderful world of wine, and my life would never be the same.
(Sidenote: Legend has it that when the monk Dom Perignon “invented” Champagne, he said “Come quickly, I am drinking the stars!” Although the events of that story are probably a bunch of hooey, I can totally get behind the Brother’s sentiment about Champagne. It is always a go-to beverage for me. Sure, when I’m celebrating something momentous, but also when I’m exhausted at the end of a long shift, or when I’ve just made a big bowl of buttered popcorn, or at the Polaris lounge at the airport, at the start of a meal, at the end of a meal, anytime, anywhere, day or night. It awakens my palate and makes my mouth so undeniably happy. Ah, Champagne! Je t'aime, mon amour!)
What’s In A Name?
While we are discussing Origins, I must also address the Wine Elephant in the Room: the moniker “Wine Girl.” Yep, it is true, I am no longer a girl. Haven’t been for quite some time. But Wine Person sounded a bit vague. Wine Grrrl…ah, just no. Wine Woman gave me visions of Wonder Woman, and truthfully, I’m a little too lumpy to wear leotard at this point. Wine Middle Aged Lady Who May Qualify For A Senior Citizen Discount Sooner Than She’d Like To Admit seemed a bit too, I don’t know, wordy? For several years I had worked at a wine shop, and one customer in particular (who obviously could not remember my name) would always greet me with “hey, Wine Girl!” Same said customer also convinced me that I should start a wine blog. And so, a few years later, The Adventures of Wine Girl was born. So, thanks, Mr. Montepulciano!
Nope, I can’t remember his name either.
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