When we talk about wine, we often talk about its colour and the impression it leaves on the nose and palate. As if it were complicated. But wine, like music, is much more than a taste or aural experience. It is a dance of the senses, a melody that plays within us and stirs our deepest emotions. Wine is an invitation to discover ourselves through our senses and emotions.

So, imagine sitting comfortably in your lounge, glass of wine in hand, listening to the melodious tunes of good old Gustav Mahler. Wine, like music, has this ability to transport us to another world, to take us on a journey through time and space.

But what makes us prefer a bit of Snoop Dogg to The Cure, David Bowie to Jorge Ben or Blur to Oasis? Is it the melody, the rhythm, the words? Or is it something deeper, something innate within us? Similarly, why do we prefer a Burgundy to a Bordeaux, or a Montepulciano to a Barolo? Is it the terroir, the variety, the winemaking method? As if it matters…

The truth is, wine and music are two art forms that appeal to our senses in an unique way. They allow us to feel, to quiver, to experience intense emotions. And just as an artist knows how to compose an unforgettable song, a winemaker knows how to put the different varieties together to create an exceptional wine. And as if by magic, a DJ picks the right tune to make the crowd dance, and a sommelier floods your palate with dizzying sensations by way of a surprising wine pairing.

Who do we trust? Ultimately, what it really comes down to is trusting our senses, getting carried away by the melody, by the flavours, by the aromas.

The penny dropped when reading Omar Khayyam, a Persian poet from the 11th century who wrote a collection of texts that were both poetic and philosophical, encouraging the pleasures of living, setting oneself free from dogma, and shamelessly getting drunk on wine and women because the grass will grow over our ashes anyway, so what’s the point in taking life too seriously because it’s there to be considered with profundity and frivolity, wisdom and insouciance…

Our chum Li Po (a Chinese poet from the 8th century) isn’t bad either, because he showed me that wine can even be shared with unlikely companions… “Alone I drink — no friend or kin, just me. I raise my cup to toast the moon on high. That’s two of us; my shadow makes it three. Alas, the poor moon knows not wine’s delight. My shadow follows like a living thing…”

An instigator of chance encounters, even the most introverted will find someone to talk to; from one end of the planet to the other, encounters “under the influence” are never wasted: you learn a lot about people, whether they are curious, explorers, adventurers, sophisticated, demanding, elitist, prudent, suspicious… A real elixir of truth to be used by human resources… What you drink tells me who you are and where you are going…

Even though we don’t really know what he was talking about, it’s not out of context at all since it’s totally liberating…!

This experience, as intoxicating as it is restorative, refreshes our senses as we truly take in our surroundings. Every step in this viticultural world is a discovery, an encounter with nature, which works patiently to produce an exceptional nectar. In a peaceful silence, occasionally interrupted by the soft birdsong, one is captivated by this picturesque landscape where the leaves of the vine stocks, already adorned with some autumnal hues, dance gracefully in the gentle breeze. The rays of sun pass through this moving spectacle, creating a magical light show. Every step echoes on the ground, creating a discreet symphony in harmony with this mysterious world beneath our feet. Almost instinctively, our hands reach out to touch the leaves, slightly dried out from the heat of summer. Our fingers glide along the bunches, feeling the smooth skin of the berries and the coolness of the dew covering them. Then there’s the delicate picking of a grape. It’s the tasting that determines the ripeness of the fruit by biting into its flesh and savouring the understated intensity of its flavour.

A stroll through the vineyards is, therefore, much more than a simple walk. It is a real sensory immersion, where each sense is stimulated, allowing a reconnection with nature and the present moment. Nonetheless, it is an experience taken to an even higher level when shared, not least with the creator of this wine miracle to whom tribute must be paid: the winegrower.

As the real conductor, every year he supplies us with the long-awaited harvest, fruits of arduous labour thanks to the whims of the heavens and the immense complexity of the soil. Cherishing the land, he cultivates the vines with patience, courage and respect. Looking to the skies and hoping to find favour, he evaluates, decides, acts and adjusts according to his experience and intuition but also thanks to a savoir-faire passed on from generation to generation. As autumn approaches, he finally harvests the treasure that nature has produced, surrendering to the wine the essence of his work.

You know, when I was younger and was starting to take an interest in wine, my father said something that I’ve never forgotten: “A good wine is just a wine that you like.” It’s not complicated! You don’t need to be an expert or spend a fortune. This little phrase has stuck with me like the chorus of an old song (Papa was a Rollin’ Stone). But wine, at the end of the day, is a bit like love, is it not? There are beginnings, moments of impulse, disappointments…

Like love, it’s the need to be curious. Do you remember your first love? That thrill of the unknown, that desire to discover the other person… It’s the same with wine. You give it a go. A label? A region you don’t know? A recommendation from a friend? This curiosity shapes our taste. Because after all, curiosity is the unleashing of taste. If you always make do with the same wine of the same variety, how can you claim to know what you really like? Sometimes, you have to know how to stir love, try the adventure, and who knows, maybe this unknown little wine will be your next love at first sight?

Having stirred love and satisfied your curiosity, you need to remember one thing: not all dates lead to a big love story. Love doesn’t always last.

We’ve all had those moments: “What on earth made me pick this bottle?!” “Ah, this Bordeaux that I loved last year… Why doesn’t have the same effect on me this summer?” Tastes change and life surprises. Sometimes we go from ecstasy, “This Château Montrose 82 is orgasmic!”, to pitiful disillusion, “I think the second bottle is corked. We’ve been stood up.”

For me, it’s a story of multiple love affairs: I have an unconditional (forbidden) love for the Chasselas grape (show-off), am madly in love with Pet Nat (always unpredictable but so exciting), not forgetting my huge love of Chianti and my unwavering true love for Burgundian Chardonnay. There are impulses, stories, memories… And even if we sometimes flirt with other varieties, those loves leave an indelible mark on our life.

There is no need to be perfect, just true, authentic. So whether you’re an informed connoisseur or a simple wine lover, always remember that the best wine is the one that you like. And, just like with love, don‘t be afraid to follow your heart… Or your palate! You’re never safe from being love-struck… By a flipping good wine!