Vinodouchery: Think you know a little something about wine? Vinography blogger Alder fears you might be a Wine Asshole ― that's a guy who flaunts what little oeno-knowledge he has like it's a MENSA score or a Dockers bulge. Sparked by a study of British men who either think they know about wine, or just try to bluff their way through a list, Alder thinks Americans wallow in wine bullshit just as miserably. Referencing New York Times wine writer Eric Asimov, his argument is this:
It's a damn shame that people think they need to know something about wine in order to enjoy it. [Asimov] posits that we have a culture that has turned wine into an intellectual object, imbued with status and special qualities that can only be perceived and appreciated by the knowledgeable.Food knowledge can operate by a similar dynamic. Alder's solution to Wine Assholery? He isn't shy about breaking it down (after the jump):
Knowing something about wine doesn't mean shit. It doesn't make you special, sophisticated, cultured, or classy. Like any knowledge it's all in how you use it. And when you're over your head, its [sic] much sexier to ask for help than it is to bluff your way through. There's nothing shameful in seeking the help of a professional.All neatly wrapped in a moral: If the restaurant you find yourself in has a sommelier, use him. Or her. And get over yourself.
