Knowing that the wine industry is underrepresented by blacks and minorities, TJ and his wife Hadley founded The Urban Grape Wine Studies Award for Students of Color, in partnership with Boston University. He is dedicated to increasing diversity in the wine industry through this program and by serving as a mentor to other people of color in the hospitality industry.
We asked TJ to provide our FLM readers with tips when it comes to searching for, buying, and enjoying wine.
5 Simple Things
You Should Know About Drinking Wine
1) If the wine tastes good to you, it's a good wine. Don't let other people's reviews or opinions stop you from exploring and discovering your own palate.
2) Most wine is produced in a dry style and not a sweet style. But - the American palate loves sweet things! One way to learn to love drier style wines is to try warm-climate whites like Sauvignon Blanc that are fruit driven but have bright acid.
3) There is a wine for every occasion and every meal. When you're choosing wine, it's okay to start with price but it's also important to think about how you will be experiencing the wine. Let the intention guide the bottle you choose.
4) Take 20 seconds with the first sip to think about how the wine feels on your palate and what the flavors remind you of. This will help you identify the nuances in wine. Tasting new wines and taking a moment to evaluate them is the best (and most fun!) way to learn about wine.
5) The acid in wine opens up the pores in your mouth, which exposes your taste buds and allows more of the food's flavors to be enjoyed. This is why it is said that wine enhances the flavor of food.