the importer , you can take that calculated risk of purchasing a wine from a region or varietal that you are not familiar with , much more confidently from their portfolio .
CellarTracker is an online cellar management tool that has become a great resource for reviews on specific bottles of wine from multiple sources . The customers can leave personal reviews where you can read about almost any wine in the world , giving you a crowd-sourced , detailed description of a wine being open at different times of the year .
Online forums are also a great way to leave reviews for other members to utilize for their wine buying strategies . Then you can , in turn , use such reviews to obtain a better understanding of a wine from non-professional reviewers and wine enthusiasts from all over the world .
At the end of the day , I think there is room for different ways to find that everyday wine or special celebratory bottle . Personally , the most important thing for me is to have a connection to the people in the wine industry . Go to wine tastings ; visit the winery ; heck , slide into the DMs for your favorite producer . I ’ m willing to bet they will respond and deepen your love with personal stories that will build your relationship with them . This will make your wine world that much more personal . It ’ s cliché to say “ drink what you like ,” but it ’ s true . I would , however , expand that to “ use wine to broaden your horizons and palate and let the world become more intimate , with the connection that wine provides .” Until next time , cheers to you all .
FRANK
S . MATSURA
PORTRAITS FROM THE BORDERLAND
Extended through June 9 , 2024
Frank S . Matsura : Portraits from the Borderland features studio images by Washington-based Japanese photographer Frank Sakae Matsura ( 1873-1913 ) alongside period-specific American Indian regalia from the Columbia Plateau . Exploring Indigenous representation through a multi-dimensional lens , the photographs detail some of Matsura ’ s most culturally significant work against a backdrop of regional transformation .
Frank Sakae Matsura ( Japanese , 1873-1913 ), Wapato Smithins Family , c . 1903 - c . 1913 , archival print from gelatin dry plate scan . Okanogan County Historical Society . OCH 6371 . Image courtesy of OCHS .
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