One of my favorite slogans of the German artist Joseph Beuys, and he was a man of slogans (and in this case perhaps anti-slogans), was “show your wound”. In this spirit, I point out that not only will I be at the NYC Wine Riot on this coming Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and evenings, but I AM A WINE RIOT. Please accept the above photo (by Bettina Keller in Berlin/Germany) as the first piece of evidence to this effect, then come along to the NYC Wine Riot for conclusive proof at one or more of my Riesling Crash Courses. There are four each session, in the following order: Riesling Boot Camp (Aromas), Riesling Boot Camp (Acidity), Riesling Deep End (America), Riesling Deep End (Germany). At any time you will also be able to purchase a signed bargain price ($20) copy of my book BEST WHITE WINE ON EARTH – The Riesling Story, which gives you all the essentials you need to understand the wines of my favorite grape, wine in general, life, New York City, the universe and (almost) everything else. You will also know what I am wearing at that time and on that day – people are already asking me what I’ll wear!
My approach has always been to try and do two things simultaneously that may seem to be hopelessly incompatible: to understand the Riesling in my glass as well as I possibly can from a science-based perspective; to see the same Riesling in the largest and most open possible context, which is as what one literally and metaphorically sober wine scientist recently described to me as, “a really amazing show!” I know a bunch of people in New York Wine City (NYWC) and beyond who do one or other of those things, but I can count the number of people who can do both simultaneously – with Riesling or any other wine – on the fingers of one hand. Of course, I’m also some kind of critic and this is another entire way of looking at wine. The picture below (by Sorin Dragoi of Munich/Germany) captures this aspect of my work best and makes at least three balls that I have to try and keep in the air at once.
Yes, if you are open to Riesling, then it can be a life-changing force that causes a lot of creative chaos and even positively influences you after you sober up. I sometimes feel so inspired when under the influence of Riesling that I started frantically scribbling notes, but more important is how it helps loosen up my mind in all manner of other situations and states when there’s no more ethanol in my bloodstream. Then all kinds of amazing things can happen, unexpected connections are made and I have no doubt that Riesling is a force for good. Come to see me at the New York Wine Riot and until then May The Force by With You!
To book tickets for the New York WINE RIOT go to:
https://secondglass.com/event-categories/event/NYC-2014-fall/features/
