Is Wine Your Mood Ring?

e-mail

Tim Fish
About Me
My Main Blog Page
Archive

Most Recent Posts:
Feb 6, 2013 2011 Zinfandels Surprise at ZAP Tasting
Jan 30, 2013 Can Sonoma Finally Get Its Act Together?
Jan 23, 2013 A Beautiful View for Value
Jan 16, 2013 History with a Heartbeat

See Also:
Featured Blogs
Complete Blog Index

What's in the glass says a lot about your state of mind

Posted: Aug 22, 2012 11:00am ET

There's plenty of talk about wine and food but what about wine and mood? At our house it's not, "What do you want to eat for dinner?" It's, "What wine do you want to drink?"

Remember mood rings, that 1970s fad that lives on at Spencer's and other cheesy gift shops? The ring was supposed to be like a soul crystal that tapped into your vibe. Or something like that. I think it mostly tapped into the allowance of teenage girls, but that's another story.

Wine is my mood ring. The wine I want to drink reveals a lot about where my head is.

If I'm exhausted after a long and demanding day, the last thing I want to drink is a big Cabernet Sauvignon, even if I'm eating beef. Good Cabernet and Bordeaux are a mental exercise that I'm not always up to. They would be wasted on me at the time. And as much as I love Champagne and sparkling wine, when I'm in a sour mood, they just taste "in my face."

When I'm feeling adventurous and want to be challenged, the last thing I want is a Chardonnay. I'll scan a restaurant wine list or the shelves for Verdicchio or Arneis or any obscure blend a sommelier might recommend.

At the same time, when I'm feeling vulnerable and need comfort, I always turn to Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, particularly in warm weather. There's something about their soothing flavors and aromas that immediately make me feel OK. Winter comfort for me is a Rhône or Italian red and a cut of beef that's exotically seasoned and slowly roasting in the oven.

I can't be alone in this. How closely do your wine selections follow your particular mood?

Member comments 7 comment(s)

Erik Miller — Santa Rosa, CA — August 22, 2012 3:52pm ET

I am with ya Tim! I have always said that it is like music to me. Sometimes I am in the mood for something edgy like hip hop if I am skiing down a mountain. I feel like while I am driving there is another type of music that I enjoy most and of course during dinner, great jazz! With wine season certainly plays a role but so does region. Amarone is definitely cold winter evening and Rioja is summer on the deck!

Michael Bonanno — CT — August 22, 2012 4:49pm ET

I absolutely love this blog. Something I would add is a personal line in the sand when it comes to what we "need." For example Tim, if you pop a Zin that you are counting on to enhance your mood, and the wine is just fair, don't you yearn to pop the next bottle? I have had numerous nights where I think " I got what I needed." As well as those where I had to pull another cork. . .

Adam Lee — Santa Rosa, CA — August 22, 2012 6:50pm ET

Tim,

Certainly my drinking sometimes reflects my mood....but I have just as often found that my mood reflects my drinking.

Adam Lee
Siduri Wines

Brian Peters — Broomfield, CO — August 22, 2012 9:24pm ET

I relate as I'm sitting here sipping a glass of Seghesio Zin...

Brenda Mcleran — Spello, Umbria, Italy — August 23, 2012 3:37am ET

Great blog, and I have to admit I once had a mood ring. Now my moods too are more focused on "what shall we drink tonight, or this weekend?" With all the heat that's been beating us down this summer, we got turned on to Lambrusco & some metodo classico's from Emilia Romagna. Light, almost rosé, bubbly and low alcohol, that don't add any unwanted extra body heat, are so refreshing. Grazie

Homer Cox — Warrenton, VA — August 24, 2012 8:38pm ET

At the same time, when I'm feeling vulnerable and need comfort, I always turn to Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, particularly in warm weather.
=========================================

Tim, I must always feel vulnerable and need comfort, regardless of weather.

Troy Peterson — Burbank, CA — August 27, 2012 7:04pm ET

I would say food is my mood (ring) and wine is my tine (as in tuning fork). I'm a foodie first, but the wine closely follows. Today we just got a 3.625% refi through on our home, so it's Chadaka Thai and a Huet Vouvray Molleux 1'ere Trie! Some days the wine is as important as the food though, I cannot lie.

Would you like to comment?

Want to join or start a discussion? Become a WineSpectator.com member and you can!

To protect the quality of our conversations, only members may submit comments. To learn more about member benefits, take our site tour.

exploring wine with tim fish