Why I am taking this class - Tommaso Cariati

Growing up in Tuscany wine has always been part of my culture. From “painting” my water with it when I was a kid to stumping on grapes to make it - it’s been an almost daily presence in my life. 

However, like most other Italians, my learning about wine has always been informal. Never from books or courses, but simply from quick overheard comments at dinner. My wine obsessed father almost always orders the house red and his comments never go beyond “good” or “barely drinkable” (but always drinkable…). And whilst it is known broadly which wines are good or bad - from famous Sassicaia Bolgheri or Antinori Chianti to the Luce Super Tuscan and even a couple of the most famous french ones - there is no “technical” knowledge of grape types or production processes like I have found in the US. 

The first time this struck me was on my first trip to the local Bevmo. Never had I seen before wine divided by grape type. Even the most sophisticated wine shops in Italy always arrange wine strong or weak, red or white, cheap or expensive. In such a simplistic way that almost assumes that wine is a daily ritual, like buying bread. Not an extensive process of research, purchasing, experiencing and learning.

I am taking this course because I want to learn more what is behind this amazing part of my culture. I want to learn the ins and outs, the technicalities and details of a part of me that is now a global booming business. Do people everywhere in the world like wine for the same reasons I do? Is it also a daily ritual for them? But also, what makes this huge business go around? And why, frankly, does the house red in Florence taste better than a $50 bottle in Palo Alto?