Notes from the Chair

 

 

Snobs?

I’ve had people tell me that they wouldn’t come to one of our tastings because they thought that we were snobs.  So, I decided to find out exactly what that word meant.  It seems that “snob” was originally used as a term for common folk, and derives from the word for a shoemaker’s apprentice.  In the late eighteenth century, students at Cambridge referred to the townspeople as “snobs”.  In other words, “townies” as opposed to “gownies”. 

The word eventually became associated with a person who would adopt the manners of the wealthy, and then became the definition that we’re accustomed to today; one who enjoys looking with disdain on those perceived to be of a lesser class.

At our last tasting, Bob and Metha Hillard (with the help of their criminally-minded daughter) provided six very tasty and interesting wines from Firelands Winery in Ohio.  The most expensive wine we tasted was $14.  Our hosts, Carole Katelan and Mary Eld, prepared a selection of wonderful appetizers and snacks, mostly from Penn Mac in The Strip.  (LOVED those red olives!)  And, again, John Eld did a fantastic job in presenting the wines, even though the winery didn’t provide the details about the selections.

I don’t think any of that qualifies as “snobbery”.  However, if we use the original meaning of the word, then I guess we are snobs. We’re just average folk that enjoy sharing our enthusiasm about wine.  Nuthin’ wrong with that.

I, for one, am proud to be that sort of snob. 

 

Congratulations to Tim and Brittany Altimus on winning the Wineaux Raffle Big Ol’ Bottle of Barolo!  The next tasting will be the second Wednesday of February, the 12^th, (and Lincoln’s birthday) at the Evergreen Community Center. 

Don’t forget your National & local American Wine Society dues!