Why You Should Drink Wine: 5 Reasons to Love Wine
My wine obsession began in Italy three years ago...that makes me unique, right? Truly, how could anyone not fall in love with a glass of Chianti paired with a mouthwatering pasta dish, surrounded by the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside?
While this defines some of my favorite wine memories from the four months I spent in Florence, I also took home so much more - a curious mind and a smoldering desire to learn everything I possibly could about this ancient beverage.
I was about 20 when I first got into wine, and it didn’t take me long to realize that most people my age were not super interested in wine. I mean, coming out of college, you’re used to gross boxed wine or your mom’s ample collection of buttery chardonnay - what’s to love about it?
I’m here to share five of my favorite things about wine to help you discover it’s deeper meaning. Wine is so much more than an alcoholic beverage, and learning about it can take you to new places, teach you about different cultures, and allow you to appreciate all that goes into the making of wine.
5 Reasons to Love Wine
1. Wine is rooted in our history
Wine’s vast history provides endless stories for us to discover (and totally nerd out about, if you’re like me!). When you research wine, you can really find yourself in a deep dive down a historical rabbit hole.
Humans have been making wine for thousands of years - the amount of history associated with wine is more than anyone can master in a lifetime. The first evidence of winemaking is thought to be in the country of Georgia around 6000 B.C.E.
With its rich history, wine offers so much to explore. While many winemaking practices have evolved over time, it’s still cool to think we’re drinking what they did thousands of years ago!
Even if you’re not a huge history geek, it’s safe to say wine’s had some time to establish itself as a quality beverage.
2. Each wine expresses its own character through terroir
Maybe you’ve heard the French terrior thrown around at the local wine bar.
Put simply, terroir is how a wine expresses its origin, from soil and climate, to farming techniques in the vineyard. All of these factors play into a wine’s uniqueness.
SO much thought goes into the making of each wine - efforts from both the winemakers and Mother Earth herself.
If you’re a science nerd, you might like to learn that wine is basically a science experiment, working to balance the elements of nature and human intervention - all of these factors which go into the resulting wine’s terroir.
I like to interpret this concept of terroir as each wine having a unique personality and story to tell us. Why not get to know each bottle of wine on a personal level?
Plus, if you try a wine you don’t love, know that each wine is so unique, you’ll ultimately find a few favorites.
3. Wine brings people together
Wine tasting, trips to wine country, hanging out at wine bars…these are just a few of the fun ways to enjoy wine with others! (Btw, you can also book a wine tasting with me if you’re looking for the perfect group activity!)
If you’re passionate about wine, it’s pretty easy to find people who are just as passionate as you are. It’s amazing getting to network with people in the industry, or meeting the average wine lover at an event and connecting over your interest.
Every bottle is an opportunity to create unforgettable memories with family and friends. Whether you’re uncorking a bottle at a family dinner, or grabbing a glass with some friends, wine brings us together.
4. Wine is an experience
Not only does the wine world bring people together, but it also incorporates food and travel (my other two favorite things). If learning about wine inherently means indulging in new cuisines and jet-setting to new places, count me right in.
The best way to learn about wine is to travel to where it comes from. Trips to wine country are a great way to learn from the wineries themselves, and see where that wine you love is grown.
Traveling through wine country will also teach you about the wine’s history and how it plays into the culture of the region.
You might also pick up a thing or two about how wine is made, and I think that’s important to know about something you’re putting into your body!
And if you can’t physically travel to wine country, it’s also fun to travel through your wine glass by researching where your wine came from. I love to immerse myself into the full experience by reading about a particular wine region, grabbing a bottle from that region, and pairing it with local cuisine.
Now that’s an experience you won’t forget.
5. It’s delicious
I know, I know, this one seems obvious. Wine being delicious is definitely a reason to love it, but I feel like a lot of people don’t give it the chance.
If you’ve tried wine and still don’t think you’re a wine-drinker, my best advice is to keep trying until you find one you love. As I said, each wine is so unique from the next, you’re bound to find one that meets your preferences.
Need I say more?
I hope this helps you look at wine in a new light and inspires you to create some new wine memories. It’s so much more than just an alcoholic beverage, and it can teach us new things, give us new experiences, and take us to so many different places.
If you’re with me, let’s drink to that.
What are some things you love about wine? Let me know in the comments and we can have a little nerdy wine chat about it.
You should definitely try these 12 rosé wines that I’m loving right now.
If you want to learn the basics of wine tasting to help you find wines you love, book a wine tasting with me!
Ready to further your wine education? Enroll in a WSET class today and use code LexiStephens for a discount.