While hanging out in California, we’ve obviously tasted a whole lot of wine, but while tasting wine with others it’s always interesting how people respond to what each bottle has to offer. The Pinot’s we’ve sipped have had old world traits, and some, the new mellow suppleness of California’s most popular brands. The Cabernet’s have been everything from jammy, old world Bordeaux complex, to the new world saliva sucking tannin’s lining the Silverado Trail and Highway 29. A few chardonnay’s made the rounds with us and they were clean and crisp or like putting a pound of butter on a piece of oak toast. But more importantly, the wines were all good in their own way, even if there were some I wouldn’t prefer. The senses of each person picked out what appealed to each individual palate and every bottle produced exactly what the vintner wished. Wine is a wonderful apparatus for gazing into the soul of the person holding the glass: Every distinguishing personality trait from the rigidity of wanting only one type of taste to the acceptance of all as okay. There are wines that are flat. There are wines that aren’t very good. But even in these two statements, it may be the best that wine maker could produce, but at this moment in time, the way wine is being touted around the world, everything sells. There is a wine for every person and every palate, so don’t not try something because it doesn’t cost enough or it’s not from an area known for wine. Try them all! Enjoy what the earth puts forth into a small piece of fruit that loves to be wine. Then, don’t whine. Close your eyes and imagine the grape from vine to bottle and smile knowing it may be a different taste each and every time – and that’s okay.