COLUMN: Promises for 2012 sound a bit familiar

It is 2012 already?! I can’t believe how fast the year flew by, but it did, especially in the store where whirlwinds of customers passed through between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. The only way to describe our holiday rush: controlled chaos …. Chaos that I wish that happened every day!

Thinking back, the response to learning and trying wine was nothing short of marvelous last year. More and more people are starting to see that good wine complements not only food, but also the moment. Let’s face it, if you aren’t in the wine industry, wine rarely makes the moment; it makes the moment better. So professionally speaking, what can I do to help make your moments better? It’s that time of year so here are my resolutions:

Mom & Pop. I’m not talking about my parents (although, they did just celebrate their 50th Anniversary… with a bottle of 1999 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Altero. Happy Anniversary!), what I am talking about are the “Mom and Pop” wineries, places that happy to be small and reveling in their precision craftsmanship. Dollar for dollar, smaller wineries are where the quality is. Think of it this way: If you were presented with the option of buying vegetables in a supermarket or a farmer’s market, which would you choose? Of course you would pick the Farmer’s Market because there is greater attention to detail and the opportunity to support some regular guy, just like you. Wineries are no different. Smaller wineries such as Walter Hansel, Brewer Clifton, Emiliana Coyam, and Arcadian (the list goes on and on) produce great quality wines that are complex and full of flavor. Yes, admittedly you pay more, but just like the Farmer’s Market you’re in it for overall satisfaction.

Dry Riesling. I know, I know, that was last year’s resolution, too. But what’s a resolution list without some repeats? I’m going to once again try to persuade my readers and customers that dry Riesling is one of the best food wines in the market. I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but for those of you that love Pinot Grigio, not-so-oaky Chardonnay or citrusy Sauvignon Blanc and want to change it up a bit, try out a dry Riesling. You will not be disappointed. I promise.

Gettin’ Down to the Nitty Gritty. Sometimes I tend to talk about general themes rather than specific wines and specific wineries. I’m going to make sure that every now and then, I devote this column to nothing more than focus on a specific winery. You will get my opinion on where they’re coming from, what they have to offer and if it’s good or not. Don’t worry, I won’t hold back, whether criticizing or complimenting.

More Food Balance. If you haven’t noticed, the cuisine of the Low Country is popular. I’m not talking about, Florence-knows-Charleston-has-good-restaurants popular. I’m talking chefs from all over the world coming to South Carolina to learn our food, popular. Low Couuntry Cuisine is getting notice on the world stage and the wine pairings with Low Country food are awesome! With this food balance, I will go deeper on lesser known white wines as well as a few reds. I’ll even give you a hint on what one of them will be. I already mentioned it and it rhymes with “shmy biesling.”

So there they are, my 4 resolutions for this upcoming year. The topics will be fresh and I hope that reading this is just as much fun for you as it is for me writing it. Let’s face it, I learn something new every day in the wine world and it is nice to be able to pass what I learn. I hope and pray that your 2012 positively destroys your expectations (in a good way!), not only for this, but your lives in general.

I’m looking forward to it. Let’s do it together.

Cheers and Happy New Year Florence!

Joshua Mason is the Wine Buyer for Micky Finn's and has been in the wine industry for 12 years. Previously he was with Total Wine and The Gourmet Shop in Columbia and now with Micky Finn's. He is from Forest, Virginia, but calls Florence home.