Wine

I read over some of my old wine columns today. I’ve written 70, give or take a couple. Going through them, I was reminded of flipping through an old photo album; seeing myself with strange dated haircuts, dressed up, undressed, and in the company of old friends, family, and acquaintances. I laughed out loud re-reading about the crazy Earth-Day lady, and the ensuing croquet debauchery. I managed to document the majority of my wine experiences for the last three years in those columns.

I remember talking with Randy Williams from Red or White Wine Discount Center, before he opened his wine shop. He was a Sales Manager for Chalone, and we met when I contacted him about a few bottles of Canoe Ridge Gewurztraminer. I told him that I was writing a wine column for Lagniappe, but the editor wanted it to be written in a fun, humorous fashion. Randy said, “Everyone writes informative wine columns with tasting notes and regional information. There really isn’t any reason to write another. If you write one, it should be funny and entertaining!” Three years later, and I still agree. I’m not traveling to wine regions, tasting barrel samples, and forecasting drinking windows. I am an excruciatingly excitable novice, with a passion for wine.

Without a sense of humor and a pension for that third bottle, I’d have nothing to write about.

Rob told me the typical Lagniappe reader was in their low 30s, had some money, and either drove a BMW, or knew someone that did. That was supposed to be my target audience. Unfortunately, I often wrote for myself, for my parents and family, for Randy, and for a paycheck. I had the misfortune of growing up in a great family. We had our ups and downs, didn’t have any money, and fought on occasion, but I have yet to meet a nicer bunch of people to hang out with. Since the wineguy@lagniappemobile.com e-mail address never worked right, the only feedback I received was from them. Knowing that they enjoyed it made it worth writing.

When I first moved to North Carolina, I thought it would be easy to continue writing for Lagniappe. Since then I’ve started sourcing wines for a restaurant on the Outer Banks, and our season will be starting in nine days. I’ve realized I’m no longer involved with the Alabama wine scene. I could continue to write generic columns, checking to see if the wines I’ve tasted are currently available in Mobile. But the truth is the thrill is gone.

I hope some of you have enjoyed my columns; my skewed view of the wacky world of wine. To those of you who haven’t; good luck with that! Thanks for the opportunity Rob. I enjoyed my tenure as wine columnist for Lagniappe.

Yours,

Matt DeVan

Contact Matt Devan at wineguy@lagniappemobile.com.

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