Wine, traditionally considered to be exclusively an upper-class enjoyment, is now becoming more and more acceptable among the average person no matter their upbringing. A bottle of wine given as a gift; a basket filled with an assortment sampler of wines; a sympathy gift basket of wine all of these reveal the new face of wine in everyday American life. And for me, symbolizes wine’s ever increasing “trickle-down effect”.
What I mean by trickle-down effect? Well, basically wine’s acceptance among all classes of American life. For someone more affluent, this trickle-down effect may appear quite surprising given wine’s wide appeal and acceptance among that social class. But for the average Joe, they still view wine as a luxury item. Or, in other words being somewhat show-off or even snooty.
But slowly, wine is losing that sort of view and perception and taking on a new appeal. Coming from a modest upbringing, we simply didn’t drink wine. It wasn’t something we even thought about; let alone wine being socially acceptable in my circle of friends. That’s my experience with wine growing up. Nevertheless, that was then and this is now!
Hence, with the existence of more and more American winery’s gaining an ever-greater popularity, wine and the culture it brings is finally gaining a foothold the U.S.. And with that, comes wine’s own trickle down effect and its mass appeal. American’s are talking wine. You see it on TV and read about it on the Internet. Wine is an American thing! With American’s being viewed as the authority. Wine parties, wine as gifts, and wine as a simple drink. No stereotypes, no preconceptions; just enjoying the beverage as Americans.
Changing the face of wine — some might surmise — not a necessary thing. They may say: “Wine is wine. It has it own long-standing identity and uniqueness”. However, not so among the average American Joe. It would be necessary for one to have some exposure abroad to understand wine’s ordinary and humble roots originally. But that history and realization does not stretch across the Big Pond.
Traditionally, in America, wine was embraced by the rich and wealthy as their beverage of choice. And not just drinking it, but living the life-style that they associated with it. But, no longer! As hard to imagine as it may be, wine is breaking free from that stereotype and perception.
Moreover, for the reasons mentioned wine has pulled away from those perceptions and focus of the past and into new terrain of the trendy and fresh. Modern yet modest Americans have come to view wine as acceptable and desirous. It being their beverage of choice, not only the drinking of it but also the humbly lifestyle that comes along with it. Yes, wine’s trickle-down effect.
First time drinking Zinfandel wine
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Riedel Ouverture Red Wine Glass, Set of 2 $14.99 Introduced in 1989, the Ouverture collection from Riedel is for the straightforward customer who appreciates good wines at reasonable prices. Completely lead-free, the glasses come in a set of two, and feature a mid-size bowl designed to enhance your drinking pleasure of medium bodied red wines. Great for parties or everyday use…. |
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Riedel Wine Series Zinfandel/Riesling Glass, Set of 2 $24.90 Riedel has combined decorative styling with impeccable function to create the new ‘WINE’ line of stemware. The abundant crystal bowls echo the flavor enhancing properties of Riedel VINUM but below they’re adorned with a fashionable Art Deco design stem that will beautify your table setting. And just like the bowl the stem on Riedel Design combines form and function. The four column cloverleaf de… |
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Riedel Vinum XL Riesling Grand Cru Glass, Set of 2 $49.95 Riedel Vinum XL Riesling Grand Cru Wine Glasses – Set of 2The sophisticated design of the Riseling Grand Cru glass is sure to impress. Its elegant shape draws out the unique qualities of the Riesling grape, perfecting the combination of fruit, acidity, texture, and aromatics for a delicious finish. This collection is machine blown in Bavaria, Germany. Each piece features a grape varietal, which ca… |