I’ve been told I am a wine snob by family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. I shouldn’t be offended and I’m not – there are worse things to be called. But I don’t understand why I would be called a snob just for learning about something and then being selective about my taste. Except for the occasional vitriolic words projected in good fun at my brother, I really have not lorded it over anyone. I think the world needs all levels of quality, all of them having a constructive function. I wouldn’t call Ralph Lauren a car snob just because he has one of the world’s foremost and incredible collection of classic automobiles. And just because he doesn’t want a Kia shouldn’t make him a snob. Please note: I am in no way comparing myself to the likes of Ralph – Ralph is a genius, I'm not. Okay, maybe I am somewhat of a snob but there is great honor amongst snobs.

Throughout my life I learned humility at a fairly young age and have had good examples of how to be generous and gracious, without expecting anything in return or without being condescending toward others. For me, nowhere have I found this mindset to be more true, consistent, and steady than in the world of wine collectors, or 'wine snobs' as many would refer to them. Being around such people, it influences and encourages me to maintain awareness about generosity and giving so that other people may too experience the great and unbridled joy of excellent wine.

Wine is a social vehicle and by itself, begs to be shared. Regardless of the quantity, quality, or variety on hand, wine needs to be distributed to others in order to get the very most it has to offer. Because we all have different levels of knowledge, different wine experiences, tastes, palates, and resources, we can learn so much about people by sharing a glass of wine with them. And this has not a thing to do with social-economic status (how expensive a shared bottle may be).

In late summer, a dear friend of mine that has great wine knowledge and experience invited me to a wine event he was hosting. He also happens to have a fantastic collection. Six of us including Mark the host, tasted through nine bottles of impeccable, remarkable, high scoring, delicious, collectable, and rare wine that he alone brought to the gathering because he wanted to share it with people he knew would appreciate it. And we did! For five hours, five erudite wine collectors spoke with me, only about wine - it was a fabulous experience.

This is not the first time people have expressed to me their generosity with wine, although this particular event will be very memorable to me for many years to come, I’m sure. Other collectors like Susan, Tom, another Mark, Lori and George along with a list that would read like “A” movie credits have also been generous and gracious, not only with their wine but with their knowledge. There is not much that is more rewarding than watching someone have an epiphany when experiencing truly great wine for the first time, or any time. Or in helping someone understand why some wine is better than another and watch them actually ‘get it’. It is a very honorable thing to do: to share not just the wine, but also the wine experience.

And it is natural for me to be generous with nearly anyone when it comes to wine not just because of my passion for it, but also because I have been shown through example many times over, the rewards of sharing. I recently had a service guy in my house. Of course being in my home he became aware of my proclivity for wine and wanting to know more about it, struck up aconversation with me that lasted nearly an hour. Maybe this was how he chose to spend his lunch break but whatever the circumstance, I gave him a bottle of excellent Italian wine that aligned with his wine preferences and knowledge level before he left. He was blown away that I would do that. But for me, I hope to hear how he enjoyed it, or not – what he thought of it, and whether it he gained any insight from the experience.