"There's no knowing where you'll be swept off to..."

     I'm beginning to think that starting a blog is a bit like beginning a grand adventure. After a lot of mental preparation,  I finally have just one last step to take to begin my journey: putting one foot in front of the other and advancing out my door. Daunting? For some reason, yes. But, I am a person of the belief that the worst part of any adventure is actually beginning it. With that said, I will introduce a little about myself.


     My name is Simone. I am a lover of all the fineries of life. I enjoy good food, conversation, and especially wine. It has become somewhat of a passion after I had my first experiences with it a few years ago in France. I can vividly picture my first sip of Côtes du Rhône Rouge at Restaurant Chartier in Paris. The sensory overload of the deep, powerful odor of berries and the dry, pungent taste hit me like a ton of bricks. I was taken so much aback by the intensity of the flavors that it took me close to an hour to finish my first glass of this mysterious liquid. However, so intrigued was I at the stunning effect that this wine had on my pallet, I realized that this would not be my last wine experience.


     Since that first sip, I have had a limited opportunity to really advance and hone my palate. Spending only a few short weeks in France was not enough to develop a real, comprehensive taste for the centuries of cultivation that has been poured into French wine. Regardless, upon returning to the States from France, I have sought out experiences to refine my knowledge and preferences for the drink, French or not.


     My true hope for this blog is to create and experience a journey, one in which I will hopefully learn the beautiful intricacies of wine and all its facets. I hope to also find a few friends to join me on this excursion with this communal elixir. As an amateur wino, I do not claim that any of my posts contain any sort of expertise. But I hope you enjoy my somewhat ramblings anyway.


     And so the journey begins...

I did not take this picture. I uploaded it from http://www.winestar.co.uk/2008/12/caves-saint-pierre-ctes-du-rhne-2007.html