I don’t think that’s snobbish in and of itself. If you make people feel ‘lesser’ for enjoying said wines, then that’s a different story IMHO
Cheers!
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I don’t think that’s snobbish in and of itself. If you make people feel ‘lesser’ for enjoying said wines, then that’s a different story IMHO
Well said!
Some of it is just a self fulfilling circle.
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There is a widely held view that people who drink expensive wine and/or collect wine are snobs
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People discover you drink expensive wine and collect wine.
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Therefore they assume you are a snob.
It may not be that you actually did or said something that made them think “what a snob.” But you just fit in the bucket.
Of course, some of us at some times do indeed do or say things that strike civilians as snobbish. I try my best not to, but I’m sure there have been times someone reacted that way to something I did or said.
Then again, I care about this enough not to be deterred from being me by the risk of that occasional reaction. I have friends who have some eccentricity about some thing that doesn’t really speak to me (watches, bikes, craft beer, horses, horror movies, whatever), and I don’t usually hold that against them. Hopefully real friends of mine don’t hold my wine geekery against me much.
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Most of us, most of the time, no.
Like with many similar words, the context and tone can make a huge difference. Is it being used in the pejorative sense, or in a gently teasing way? The word snob comes along with negative connotations for sure, but that can be nudged in a different direction. I sometimes refer to myself as a snob, often when making a joke about how I don’t really care for fancy coffee, saying that it’s nice to have one beverage about which I’m not a total snob.
I think we can fairly say that most of us are choosy about wine, and have opinions about wine that go way beyond “do I like this or not.” I know that, faced with the wine choices at most functions or events, I will usually pass on wine entirely and I admit I am in fact turning my nose up at it. Is that snobby? Maybe - I can certainly see why some people see it that way. I sort of see it that way, too. But on the other hand, I reject some of the connotations of snob (thinking my preferences somehow make me better than those who don’t share them, for instance), and firmly believe that my joy in wine is untainted by notions of class or exclusivity.
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Trying posting something favorable about Meomi. That’ll answer your question.
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Thank you for a sudden, unexpected, deep belly laugh this morning. (Chef’s kiss to the air)
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I don’t disagree but my experience is that not all have the same nuanced pov
Side note- just saw a promo for the new Fraser and would suggest the entertainment industry playing up wine snobs could be a partial answer to the OP too
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The best I can do is never offering “knowedge” or opinions I am not specifically asked for. I would certainly never offer an opinion on a wine I am served other than mild appreciation. Friends do know that wine is a hobby and they do ask questions, which I answer according to what interest they express and no more. It is no diifferent than being asked about a monograph by a non-specialist. I tell them what the monograph’s subject is: it’s a book about art theory, it’s a book about x authors. If they ask for more, I give them the 75 word precis you write for your publisher to use. Few people ever ask for more nor should they be expected to. It’s not different with wine.
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God what a snob.
Why? It’s what you read when you pick up any book and look at the back cover to see what it’s about. And I can assure you they aren’t easy to write.
One way to get perspective is to think of what obsessive interests other people have and how you react to them.
For example, I find hardcore cycling people pretty out there. Their outfits, equipment, the bossy manner with pedestrians and others on the road, talking about their body fat and resting heart rate, talking about all their specialized bikes for different riding, bragging about their diets, a general air of superiority.
Obviously I (and the cartoonist) are painting with a broad brush of the most eye roll stuff. Most of them just enjoy doing a healthy activity outdoors, enjoy the company of other enthusiasts, maybe get geeky about it, but it’s overall a great thing.
So I guess you can chuckle at the funny stuff, people probably do about us wine geeks at times, but might as well do what you love.
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I was just teasing about you using the word “precis” in a statement explaining how not to be a snob.
It’s an English word last time I looked. And I bet you didn’t have to look it up. It’s not like referring to, say, terroir.
I won’t eat Pizza Hut or Domino’s because it’s digusting, am I a pizza snob?
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I did have to look it up.
I actually didn’t know what a monograph is, either, and I just looked that up now.
I might be an idiot, but maybe this also illustrates a point about what seems obvious to someone on the inside of something not being as widely known on the outside as it feels?
Like if I say at the dinner table to civilians that the wine seems pretty tannic, maybe we’re so used to that idea that it seems obvious what that is, but actually 95% of civilians have no idea what that word is or understanding what that concept is. So they might think “Tannic? What a snob.”
Anyway, I hope I didn’t give offense, I was just teasing a friendly way.
Idk, once a year Domino’s hits the spot…
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Domino’s is passable, but Pizza Hut is the worst pizza of all, including $4.99 frozen ones at the supermarket, probably even including the ones under the heating lamp on the counter at 7-11.
If you taste several wines with non-winegeek friends, do you often find that they don’t really like your favorite and that you find their favorites simple and pedestrian?
If so, do you let them know your views?
IF you won’t go to a restaurant because you can’t bring your own wine, yes, you are a snob.
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