I did not understand why I felt so profoundly intrigued.  I was mesmerized and somewhat lost in such wonderous thought.  I kept returning to the myriads of aromas emitting from the glass that I was slowly swirling - I stood in fascination, drawn to the multitude of lingering flavours that my evoked senses had not ever processed and only now in retrospect, had never experienced in such a magnificent way – how was this possible?

At that moment, nothing else mattered.  A new portal to life had been opened and there was no returning.  I wanted the very essence of time to stop, to slow everything down.  Biblical references and stain-glass images indelibly etched with wine were being immitted from my memory, pouring seamlessly into my present reality.  The changing of water to wine, now had an even more significant meaning in its miracle relevance.  All my previous experiences, assumptions and reservations about wine were now completely unfounded. 

This confirmed why several historical civilizations, which formidably included the Ancient Romans and the Ancient Greeks, had dedicated a Wine God to hold in veneration.  Worshiping to a divine power, praying to their respected guardian for the protection and overseeing of a healthy harvest to arrive year after year, became a necessity to the survival of their cultures.  Wine is a gift of reverence from the Gods to remind us all that we, us mere mortals, are in fact loved.

What was I getting myself into?  Perhaps I should go back to the individual that I was prior to all of this, maybe I could attempt the grand illusion that our memorable evening had never taken place.  That you and I had never met.  But then those comforting thoughts prominently return, the rumination that I had not met such a companion before, a silent friend so faithful, that had ever elicited such introspection.  I could not say goodbye so easily. 

It continued innocently enough with some casual reading and researching on how wine was made.  It soon followed by the introduction to different grape varieties and to the unique wine styles from different geographical regions of the world that I had never even knew existed.  For the first time, I started thinking of how my experiences with food and wine could enhance each other – who knew that this topic alone could be so sensory pleasurable by simply trying different possible pairings.   The momentum was building, slowly but surely it was blending into my normal weekly routine and I was being wooed by every reveling aspect of it.

People with the same interests and similar sensibilities started to appear into my life, almost as if they had always been patiently waiting on the sidelines of my peripheral vision.  Likeminded individuals who shared this same passion, whereby harmoniously morphing into instant life long friendships.  Where were these friends prior to me meeting you?  My grasp to be a part of a cohesive community was no longer illusory.  Wine most definitively brings great synergies together, at least this has been the gratefulness of my personal experience.

As simple as wine can appear starting out, on the surface of it at least, the depth to the world of it is rather endless, especially if you are willing to dive into it further.  The glass is unquestionably half-full, an abyss of splendour within it waits for the adventurer in all of us.  I soon discovered, that those who have been immersed in its’ world have long known that it is an impossible endeavour to know all that there is to know about wine.  Perhaps this is part of its enduring allure.  Each bottle contains an opportunity to delve into a cultural tradition, to embark onto a historical journey and into an evolution of experiences, enhancement of celebrations, the emergences of friendships.  It goes on and on.  Even each grape variety is a small piece of the Earth’s biological offering.  If you have ever considered to have yourself absorbed into a subject that you will never stop learning and discovering, then seek no further.

 "Wine brings to light the hidden secrets of the soul, gives being to our hopes, bids the coward flight, drives dull care away, and teaches new means for the accomplishment of our wishes." - Horace

I was not lost prior to meeting you, but in careful reflection after all of these years I now feel that a part of me had been discovered during that first evening of ours.  These feelings of you remain enchantingly impressed upon the picturesque landscape of my unrivaled waking dreams.   The comfort of you in the waiting cellar places of my thoughtful reaches, reminds me that I am never alone.  Your gifts are meant to be shared, even though you have always made me feel that you were mine alone to hold up high. 

Now, even though we do not meet as often, my thoughts of you are never far.  My faithful friend, your steadfast companionship continues to reveal the luminous colours upon the undiscovered roads ahead of me.