I was also the person who thought wine wasn't for me
By Ale Garayoa
If you are reading this, you are likely already a wine-dweller in progress: I am very excited to be able to share with you, through La Cava Shop, what I have learned about the world of wine over 24 years. Because it is so vast that one lifetime is not enough to know and taste everything; that is precisely its magic.
I remember it as if it were yesterday. My first approach to wine was at the tender age of 22, when I was hired to work at an import company. I walked into that huge warehouse full of boxes, bottles of different shapes and colors, and flashy labels from all over the world. They taught me how to differentiate types of wine and how to correctly pronounce the different grape varieties or French names. It was a whole new world for me. And when I arrived at my first induction tasting... well, I would give my kingdom to see myself again!
Falls, stains, and the famous hazing
There I was, with a look of "and how is this drunk," trying to understand the sommelier's terms and attempting to see or smell the same things he did, without even knowing how to hold the glass. Of course, I spilled wine all over myself while trying to "aerate the glass," finishing the day with my clothes decorated by a voracious red wine stain. Upon tasting it for the first time, I felt an infernal burning in my mouth, throat, and stomach.
But that wasn't all. I wasn't spared from a bit of hazing, either. The warehouse manager invited me to try some wines that had just arrived at his office. Thinking I should show enthusiasm in my new job, I went and took five sips of different bottles. None of them pleased me; I only felt alcohol and bitterness, but out of courtesy I exclaimed a shy: "it's good."
I went back to my place thinking about quitting everything and swearing I would never drink wine again, until a colleague revealed the truth amidst laughter: the bottles I had just tried were returns from restaurants because the wine was "spoiled" (vinegary).
"After many years of work and 'glass hours,' I discovered the most important lesson of all: you don't need to know everything to start enjoying wine."
From novice to explorer: Your journey starts here
After vowing revenge, I studied and had to perform some "sacrificed field research," adding many glass hours to learn. And today I want to tell you something fundamental: wine doesn't have to be intimidating or pretentious.
At La Cava Shop, we want to demystify the glass. It will be an honor for me to guide you and accompany you if you are new to this, and learn from you if you already have experience. It doesn't matter if you are just starting out or if you already know what you are looking for; here there will always be a judgment-free space to discover your next favorite wine.
I'll see you in the next blog to share our first glass. Cheers!
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