It was the word “sommelier” that had most of them stumped.
When I was recently talking about sommeliers, one friend questioned
the word. After I told him I was talking
about “winers,” he thought I was mentioning “whiners.” There is a difference, and the disconnect
remained.
Winers are usually found toting around a stemmed glass of
wine and wearing a tastevin around their necks, while whiners merely complain
about everybody and everything except themselves.
My sainted wife and I tend to visit roadside vineyards when
they are enroute and convenient. One, in
particular, on the Eastern Shore , has periodic
events.
Although I am not a wine connoisseur, I affably tag along as
a voyeur-of-sorts to take in the sites of those over-indulgers and just plain
wine snobs.
That Eastern Shore winery’s
affair occurred on a lovely Saturday afternoon, and promised food, crafts, art,
and wine. One event included “tastings”
where other wine drinkers sell jewelry, wooden bowls, and glass trinkets
fashioned into candles.
The whole event took on a Renaissance-like atmosphere,
without the expected debauchery, though.
Winery employees could be found peddling fresh-baked rolls
and pizza, at premium prices. Long lines
compounded the food delay. And, the abundance
of amateurs like my sainted wife and I to fail to bring crackers, cheese, and fresh
fruit on which to snack, prompted us to exit early.
It wasn’t long before many winers turned into whiners, ruing
the fact they, too, were ill-prepared, and the winery itself was disorganized.
All bad feelings quickly dissipated as the unexpected rains
arrived, drenching the revelers and converting the dusty event grounds into
mud.
Penny loafers and stilettos alike were soon sliding in the
brown slop. Screams from people, who
clearly never got wet, echoed throughout the gnarly grape vines and over the PA
system playing trendy music.
It was a toss-up as to whine or wine that prevailed during
the event, but it promised to be fun on a second go-round when we would be better
prepared.
And, the word “sommelier” can distinguish between the
drinkers and carpers. I’m just saying…
