Discover Wine in Retirement

I have always enjoyed wine.  I didn't have to wait to discover wine in retirement. That’s not to say that I was a knowledgeable drinker, I just liked it.  That has continued throughout my whole life, and I have to say that I enjoy wine more than I ever did.  I used to drink beer in the summer and a mixed drink on occasion (especially a Margarita made the way I like it) but for the past ten years it’s been wine almost exclusively.  The exception is cocktail hour with our daughter whenever she can fit me into her schedule.  But you’ll never guess what happened. Even our daughter has discovered she is developing a taste for wine, and she was as surprised as anyone.

Wine has always been a way to end the day for me.  A glass or two with dinner meant the day was over and it was time to relax.  When I was working it was a relief to see another day disappear but, as I age, I’ve become more reflective.  Weather permitting you’ll see me out on our deck looking over our lake and taking a moment to be thankful for this moment in life.  I think wine is the best drink to have in your hand when you start to reflect on life and all of its complexities.  Because wine itself is complex and that is part of the attraction.  Even if you’ve been drinking it all your life, you cand discover wine in retirement by taking the time to realize how different each glass can be.  You start to realize how people can devote a lifetime to the harvesting, aging and bottling process and become masters at producing this gift of the gods as it was referred to by the Greeks.

Discover wine in retirement by sampling different varieties on your own or even through one of the many courses you can find online.  Keep in mind that it isn’t what you know about wine, it’s about what you like.  Wine is very personal and the enjoyment of it shouldn’t be to put your knowledge on display but to share something you like with friends and family.  Keep popping those corks and you’ll surprise yourself by how you can distinguish one varietal from another.  When you start to investigate what wines go best with what foods, you’re well on your way to being someone who truly appreciates the amount of work that goes into the craft of winemaking.  You’ll start to detect wine reductions in the sauces served at fine restaurants and be inspired to try it yourself at home.  Add a little wine to your cooking and you’ll notice the difference.

A trip to a vineyard can help you discover wine in retirement.

You can discover wine in retirement by visiting a vineyard.  Did you know wine is produced in every state in the country?  Not all of it might be to your taste but it shows you how versatile this ancient drink really is.  Take a tour if it’s offered and follow the process from the vineyard to the glass and you’ll be fascinated by the process.  My wife prefers water, but she loves to see how wine is produced and some of the wineries we’ve been to have offered excellent tutorials on each phase of the process.  Of course, the highlight of the tour is usually the tasting room and it’s not all that rare that you see a person become a wine “convert”.  Even my wife has been known to drink all of her sample glass if she likes it rather than give it to me to finish which is much more common.  There are some wines she likes but she still prefers water to save on the calories.  The exception was in Paris where the Vin de Maison (house wine) was a very good Bordeaux and cheaper than the water.  We saved a small fortune, and I sent a picture of her drinking her wine every night to our children.

Discover wine in retirement with friends and you may start a regular social occasion that you’ll really start to look forward to.  It can be a meal, or appetizers served with a couple of different varieties of wine and it’s very interesting to discover the pairings that appeal to you most.  There are no right or wrong answers because, as you’ll see, wine is very personal.  You can’t help but become a more sophisticated wine taster over time.  It just happens naturally and the first time you can taste a hint of peach or citrus, plum or currants or be able to taste the oak of the barrel it might have been aged in, you’ll see why so many people enjoy wine as a part of their life.  I think wine is made for retirement.  But, having said all of that, we need to do the obligatory disclaimers that we all know about: drink responsibly and never drive under the influence of alcohol, consult your doctor and keep in mind that the consumption of alcohol can lead to serious health problems and even death.  Of course, if you have a drinking problem, seek professional help.  Now let’s get back to the fun part.

Discover wine in retirement by incorporating it into your travels.  Sampling the different wines of the world and, in particular, any regions you are visiting can add tremendously to your “education”.  But, if at all possible, visit a winery and go out into a vineyard to see the whole process.  I fully understand that farming is truly an art, but winemaking becomes a science because you’re taking the grape and starting a process that can take years to complete.  With farming your work is usually finished at harvest.  With wine making your work begins again once you have the grapes off the vine.  I have developed a tremendous respect for the wine industry and am continuing to add to my knowledge and appreciation of the beautiful, almost spiritual beverage that is produced in some wonderful vineyards around the world.

Discover wine in retirement by continuing to pop those corks and fill those glasses.  Find a wine store with a knowledgeable staff who can guide you on your purchases and keep a journal on the different varieties and labels.  If you’re really serious, there are magazines to subscribe to and even clubs to join.  The club I belong to constantly refines their monthly shipments to you based on your feedback.  I’m always amazed that there’s almost always a wine that I’ve never tried before that becomes my new favorite.  I have a friend who has similar tastes as me and we compare notes on a regular basis.  That’s part of the fun when you discover wine in retirement.  It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

Thanks for visiting.  If you like what you see here, please tell your friends.

If you think it might be fun to start your own website (it is!) please look here.

If you’d like to learn about earning a steady online income, please check out this possibility.