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Wines
Choice
-Care-
Serving
Although each person must have individual preferences and ideas
concerning wines, there are certain customs which are almost
universally observed by those who proffer and those who take
wines.
We have endeavoured to convey these customs, together with some
few general practical hints on wines, in such a way that will hold
interest for the Connoisseur and be helpful to those who would
know more of the accepted ways of general choice, care and serving.
The treatment of this subject could be as extensive as the Lure
of the Grape itself—consequently we have employed a condensed
form in commenting upon the following leading features;
Choice:
Where experience and knowledge of vintages does
not warrant personal choice it is wiser to place
reliance on the advice ofa reputed expert.
Arising out ofthe nature oftheir calling,established
wine merchants have pride amd pleasure in advisi*g
on the commencement or elaboration ofa"cellar,"
and the experience gained by the purchaser in this
way would be constructive and not nearly so
expensive as might be the case if the new buyer
were left entir^y to his own resources.
Similarly, when dining out, the assistance of the
wine stewards of good class hotels and restaurants
is always valuable. In those cases where the wine
list does not extend the description beyond generic
terms or the names of wine districts, a good maxim
is to"gang warily."
Allied with a susceptible and critical palate and
the good memory that comes from real interest,
the knowledge gained in these ways forms an
excellent nucleus for the subsequent expression of
personal discrimination and preference.
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