Today is a drizzly, chilly (at least for May) day in New England. I’m sitting at a lovely café sipping a latte (too early for wine) and contemplating my next blog post.
My computer keys don’t seem to be cooperating but then it hit me. Wine isn’t always about tasting, describing, smelling, etc. It can also be about your mood and even the weather. I believe that we experience different moods at different times of year, at different times of day, and during different weather events. Our moods can be different depending on if something in our life is going well or not so well. It can also be different depending on the season or the weather. If we are specifically talking wine, our moods can dictate how we perceive a wine. If we are in a joyful mood, the wine may resonate with us differently than if we are in a sad or blue mood. Weatherwise, a dark, dreary day vs a sunny, warm day could definitely affect our wine choices. You may wonder, how can the weather and your mood affect your choice of wine?
Here are some of the associations that I make with mood, weather and wine. Let’s say that you are sitting in a café on a cloudy, gray day…Oh, wait that’s me. Okay, I’ll go with it…
I usually associate Spring/Summer with white wine, light reds, and/or rosé and Fall/Winter with bold red wines. I think that’s a pretty common association. Light, chilled, refreshing wines cool you down in the warmer weather. They cool off your body and brighten your day with their crispness.
- Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, lighter-bodied Chardonnay, Rosé, Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Burgundy, Beaujolais are some examples. We can also include sparkling wines: Champagne, Sparkling wines, Cava, Prosecco.
Drinking bold, full-bodied reds in the cooler months gives you the feeling of a warm “blanket wrapped around you”. They give you a warm, comforting feeling inside.
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, Bold red Italian wines, Bordeaux blends, Shiraz from Australia are examples.
Wine and moods are a bit more complex. It has to do with preference and how you’re feeling at a particular point in time. The following are generalizations and my own personal opinion. I feel that wine moods closely mirror the seasons. Happy, joyous, excited, calm, cheerful, energized, positive moods call for something light and refreshing. I gravitate towards white or light reds. They are fun, upbeat and keep the good mood going. Sad, anxious, grumpy, lonely, worried, overwhelmed moods call for something more full-bodied. I go for a bold red to help bring my spirits up, wrap me in the “blanket” and give me a comforting hug.
Let’s say you are in a calm, peaceful mood, you and your partner or maybe some friends are sitting in the backyard in early spring. You are sitting around a bonfire and a hand-tossed pizza is on tonight’s menu. What kind of wine would I choose? Well, how about a Valpolicella Ripasso? Perfect in my opinion! It’s a beautiful Italian red wine with fruit forward flavors of raspberry and dark cherry. Not too big on the tannins and a soft richness that goes perfectly with a warm fire and a pizza! Will it keep my peaceful mood going? You bet!
So, next time you find yourself choosing a wine, consider the time of year, the weather, and your mood. Your choices may be different than mine but whatever works for you to either keep your good mood going or bring your bad/sad mood up will be an excellent choice!
Cheers!