Salute !

I have been to the promised land. Yes, I have been to Napa Valley. Wine country. God's country. Same thing. I have read books,magazine and newspaper articles and internet pieces on wine. I have happily participated in wine tastings. I have toured wineries and vineyards. I have read about rieslings,syrahs and chardonnays. Merlot ? Pinot Noir? A blend? A reserve? A bottle from the estate of...? I have talked tannins and been brought to tears by full-bodied dramatic wines. Cabernet? Bordeaux? There are storm cellars and then there are wine cellars with the latter being more impressive 99% of the time. Tornadic activity wins the other 1% for the storm cellar. I have danced the three-step with wines. The visual examination followed by the aromatic inquiry completed with the long-awaited taste. SSS. I'm not hissing. The three S's are the stop,drop and roll of wine tasting. Swirl,sniff and sip. Then convincingly announce your findings as if you are Indiana Jones at The Temple of Grapes.  I extrapolate a subtle hint of a ginger-lemongrass-basil-white chocolate-olive-cherry with the slightest sprinkling of a 1970's musk oil. Oh no, the musk oil is coming from the person at the next table. Note: It is never a good idea to wear a heavy cologne when wine-tasting. It is also never a good idea to wear musk oil. Never. Ever.  When you are undergoing a swirl,sniff and sip regiment...remember that you only need a small amount of your chosen spirit in the glass. Amateurs should not attempt to SSS without measuring to insure that the amount of wine in the goblet will not take flight during swishing and baptize the occupant of the next chair like a winning coach on a sideline. Vintage wines and fruity wines and bold wines and zinfandels and champagnes each provide unique fermented flavors. But for me...the pinot grigio deserves the walk down the red carpet. It matters not that it sounds like I am ordering an Italian mouse from the Ed Sullivan Show. Nor am I affected by the typical politically incorrect pinot grigio-bashing. There are bullies everywhere. It is pleasing to my senses. No,not bullying...the wine. Can you keep up? Have you been drinking and reading again? I enjoy the intoxicating taste. Pinot Gris is the French offering in this category and it too is an excellent selection.They come from the same grape or a mutation of the same grape. Some call it a clone.  But the Pinot Grigio wins. Grazie Italia. You are still trying to remember something,aren't you? I will help you out: the mouse was named Topo Gigio. Prego. I will help you out again: Try the Pinot Grigio. If you enjoy white wine, I think you will like it.  This is my opinion. I like the taste. Tis all a matter of taste. Salute !