I was extremely lucky last week to be able to go and see Fleetwood Mac on their latest world tour. They are without question one of my favourite bands so I will accept my bias immediately but that said – what a night!
It was memorable for a number of reasons. Not just the music although that did I confess have me wandering down memory lane when I remember the first time I heard it or a particularly memorable occasion when I enjoyed it with company.
That got me thinking. Its often the same with wine. More often than not it is our emotional connection to a wine that makes it particularly memorable (or not!). Or perhaps knowing a little about the winery and the people involved makes it more of a rounded experience.
One of my favourite wines is Ascheri Podere di Montelupa Viognier, a fantastic wine made by a Harley Davidson enthusiast. The thought of the wine maker inspecting his vines on the back of such a legendary bike only adds to the air of excitement around the potential that this wine has.
In the same way that Fleetwood Mac are more than just four individuals, some might say geniuses, it is the whole package that makes the concert such a memorable experience. I wonder how often it is when we’re buying that £3.99 bottle from Asda that we think about the winemaker, oenologist, marketeer, PR team, buyer, logistical manager, lorry driver, shelf stacker and so on. The list I am sure will run into dozens.
No doubt many would argue for £3.99 hopefully not a lot. But maybe we should. Because I am sure that many are passionate about the product we now take for granted.
I know for one that next time I pour a glass I will spend a moment dreaming of all those involved and wondering what exciting things they are up to now… and what they might just produce in the future.
