Welcome to 2017! This is the year that all of your wine dreams come true* so please look forward to it. Amidst all the noise of the wine trends, predictions and recommendations that will be starting up today I would like to offer one small gift to help you get through the onslaught: Permission. Permission to not have a favorite wine this year, or ever really. Permission to respond with a shrug, or “I actually like quite a few wines, it’s hard to find a favorite” to the predictable question while hobnobbing with a new fellow wine drinker of “What’s your favorite wine?”
With this comes the freedom to not feel defined by a single wine and the responsibility to not turn your nose up at a wine that you feel doesn’t define you. You are more than one varietal, one blend, one producer. You are allowed to change; to ebb and flow. You are allowed to mature, because really, it’s kids that have favorites isn’t it? Favorite color, favorite super hero, favorite toy? You’re an adult now. You set a bar of acceptable quality and you’ll enjoy anything that meets that expectation. That’s not to say you won’t still be a discerning individual, but you’ll take pleasure not worrying if there’s something better. Way to go you. Nice work.
While we’re at it, you don’t even need to seek out what someone else decides is the best wine. Why? Because it’s a subjective measure based largely on preferences that you may not hold. If you ask for the best at a restaurant/wine shop/winery, those in the industry will immediately identify you as their favorite type of customer in the world known as the sucker. Let’s not be suckers in 2017.
Cheers to a new year.
*Disclaimer: Author’s definition of what your dreams are may differ from your own and may not be based in reality.
Aaron Berdofe's Wine and Food Experience 
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