Sunday, June 15, 2003
WineScene
By Andy Abramson
Did you know that wearing perfume to a wine event is a no-no? What about showing up reeking of that lovely aroma of tobacco, after someone’s driven in their car, with windows up, smoking that cigarette, cigar or pipe? Then there’s remaining standing in line, AFTER, they’ve been poured their sample taste, all the while letting those in the line behind them stew, waiting and hoping to get the same wine they’re hearing someone rave about to Muffy or Buffy just right ahead as the follower has to cool their jets? To all three the answer is an absolute no, no, -oh heavens no.
Now before you call me Carrie (as in Bradshaw) and label this column “Wine In the City” I have to admit this is about “Wine Class” or the lack thereof that some people just never seem to get.
While I’ll never be accused of being Mr. Manners, for I have been seen eating with my hands, talking with food in my mouth and drinking without pointing my pinky out at wine events, I do try to do my best to respect both the host and the other guests. That’s why I was prompted to hold class today about, well “wine event manners.”
You see, this behavior, or lack of was magnified to me recently at a very nice wine party to celebrate a special day for a local wine shop. The well mannered owners did their best to make everyone feel at home. But at the very festive party I witnessed some of San Diego’s more affluent, and supposedly classy, display a lack of wine class, not because they don’t know better. Simply because they don’t care.
While the establishment went out of their way pouring wines and laying out a spread of food, putting their best foot forward, many a guest acted like they forgot their mother’s best taught manners, making a great day a less than an enthralling experience for the more “sensitive” and “taste” oriented attendees.
Another example of low wine class is taking bottles of wine home from a restaurant that has been gracious enough to allow you to BYOB for a party or special occasion. The courtesy of complimentary corkage is something that is a privilege, not a right, so, when a person takes home the best of the bounty, the staff, who enjoys receiving the fruits of their labors is then deprived of one of the main reasons why management permits BYOB….
And before I get off this soapbox…Big Handbags at wine events are another no-no. Other than for shoplifting at the store, a large handbag only swings and sways as Muffie saunters through the aisles. When an event is crowded enough to make one think the Fire Marshal may need to stop by and reign in the crowd, a large handbag or oversized shoulder bag only adds to the possibility of someone having their glass tapped and tippled creating a stain on that already colorful outfit that someone is wearing…..Advice to Muffie and Buffie---forget the bag, and have Brooks or Bryce pay for that bottle you think is so divine…..P.S. Don’t forget The Children’s Hospital Wine Tasting Fund Raiser at Del Mar Plaza on Tuesday Evening June 17 from 5 PM. Just forget the perfume and the smokes….
By Andy Abramson
Did you know that wearing perfume to a wine event is a no-no? What about showing up reeking of that lovely aroma of tobacco, after someone’s driven in their car, with windows up, smoking that cigarette, cigar or pipe? Then there’s remaining standing in line, AFTER, they’ve been poured their sample taste, all the while letting those in the line behind them stew, waiting and hoping to get the same wine they’re hearing someone rave about to Muffy or Buffy just right ahead as the follower has to cool their jets? To all three the answer is an absolute no, no, -oh heavens no.
Now before you call me Carrie (as in Bradshaw) and label this column “Wine In the City” I have to admit this is about “Wine Class” or the lack thereof that some people just never seem to get.
While I’ll never be accused of being Mr. Manners, for I have been seen eating with my hands, talking with food in my mouth and drinking without pointing my pinky out at wine events, I do try to do my best to respect both the host and the other guests. That’s why I was prompted to hold class today about, well “wine event manners.”
You see, this behavior, or lack of was magnified to me recently at a very nice wine party to celebrate a special day for a local wine shop. The well mannered owners did their best to make everyone feel at home. But at the very festive party I witnessed some of San Diego’s more affluent, and supposedly classy, display a lack of wine class, not because they don’t know better. Simply because they don’t care.
While the establishment went out of their way pouring wines and laying out a spread of food, putting their best foot forward, many a guest acted like they forgot their mother’s best taught manners, making a great day a less than an enthralling experience for the more “sensitive” and “taste” oriented attendees.
Another example of low wine class is taking bottles of wine home from a restaurant that has been gracious enough to allow you to BYOB for a party or special occasion. The courtesy of complimentary corkage is something that is a privilege, not a right, so, when a person takes home the best of the bounty, the staff, who enjoys receiving the fruits of their labors is then deprived of one of the main reasons why management permits BYOB….
And before I get off this soapbox…Big Handbags at wine events are another no-no. Other than for shoplifting at the store, a large handbag only swings and sways as Muffie saunters through the aisles. When an event is crowded enough to make one think the Fire Marshal may need to stop by and reign in the crowd, a large handbag or oversized shoulder bag only adds to the possibility of someone having their glass tapped and tippled creating a stain on that already colorful outfit that someone is wearing…..Advice to Muffie and Buffie---forget the bag, and have Brooks or Bryce pay for that bottle you think is so divine…..P.S. Don’t forget The Children’s Hospital Wine Tasting Fund Raiser at Del Mar Plaza on Tuesday Evening June 17 from 5 PM. Just forget the perfume and the smokes….
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