My son has very little interest in wine. This is good. He’s 12. However, he’s tried the stuff in various forms, including Sauternes, Rieslings, Syrahs and a few others. Still, no interest. But, again, he’s 12.
My own father also had very little interest in wine when he was alive. In fact, as I think back, I don’t recall a single instance of him opening a wine bottle or even drinking wine. His interest in alcohol tended toward bourbon and a good Manhattan. That was provided by my mother, Alverna, who, on occasion, would make a “batch” in a stainless steel vessel that, once filled, probably could provide upward of four or five good, strong Manhattans. They would occasionally finish the batch together, usually on a weekend.
What this means is that had I had any interest in sneaking booze out of the house when I was young—again, if I had any interest in that sort of thing—It would have been Old Crow or Old Grandad, located on the bar directly to the left of his stainless steel mixing cup.
Now, my father-in-law, Hank, worked in marketing and advertising during the “Mad Men” era before becoming a financial advisor. So, in his younger days, it was stronger drink for him. Hank is a Texan, but via Oregon, where he grew up. There, he and his little brother Morrie spend a good deal of time in the basement of their father’s 24-hour grocery in Portland. The grocery served a very diverse neighborhood filled with European Jews, Italians and other immigrants from across the Atlantic. So, it was in that basement that Hank was first introduced to wine through the Chiantis and Bordeaux his father stocked for the neighborhood.
Of course, his daughter, Kathy, spent many years running winery hospitality programs at Failla, Signorello, Terra Valentine, Morlet and other properties in Napa Valley and this resulted in Hank putting together a pretty good stash of pretty good wines. Today, Hank is partial to rich, dry Cabernet and Merlot.
As for me, well, I’ll drink just about any type of wine. I just love the stuff.
I think men are more apt to gravitate toward wine when they attain fatherhood. Fatherhood tends to mature a man. Wine, like it or not, tends to be a drink that invites the more mature among us. It’s a table drink and the table is much more central to a father’s world than the single man. Wine is bottled in sharing form, and fathers tend to have partners with whom sharing in the natural state of being. And of course, wine is a drink that lends itself to longer horizons and fathers too are wont to play the long game.
Wine is also a great gift for Father’s Day. I didn’t get wine this year. My son, Henry, and Kathy presented me with a milkshake maker. They know me well. But did you know there is a relatively well-known concoction that combines chocolate milkshakes and red wine?
4 Scoops Vanilla Ice Cream
1/2 Cup Red Wine
2 Oz Brandy
2 Tbs Chocolate Syrup
Combine the ice cream, red wine, brandy, and chocolate syrup in a blender.
Blend on high for 30–45 seconds until thick, creamy, and smooth.
Pour into a tall glass, top with a generous helping of whipped cream
I will not be making this with my new milkshake machine, my ice cream and my wine.
This was such a fun read. Full of personable anecdotes and a nudge for men to settle and embrace wine as the "happily settled man drink" with a partner and friends to eat and drink with!
Love the milkshake idea Tom. But don't do milk much anymore. I had wine at table (diluted) early on for shabby and Passover before graduating to real wine as a teen and 3specially after living in Italy for school! HFD to you