Because another wine food and travel blog was way too long.
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Falling Prey to Wine Rating Peer Pressure
My favorite response to “but everyone at my school (fill in the blank)” is quite often, “If everyone decided to jump off a bridge would you have to do it too?” Knowing the oldest of our two teens, he probably would — but that’s because he’s fearless. A good trait for entrepreneurs, but not so much when it comes to daredevil stunts.
But do we really ever outgrow it? No, we just call it something else. “Social norming theory” and “trendy” are some of the more positive descriptors, “herd mentality” and “bandwagon” some of the less so. Peer pressure can be positive, in that it can open up a world of new experiences and tastes. When I first met Joe, I hated the music he liked. To me it sounded harsh, thrashing, angry, defiant and way too “in your face.” Which is, of course, why he liked it. But the more I listened and understood the message, rather than simply listening to the voices, I began to appreciate the music. Remember the old cereal commercial? Where two kids wouldn’t try the “healthy” cereal, so they put their younger brother up to it first? One older brother says to the other, “He won’t eat it, he hates everything!” And then when Mikey starts eating, his brothers know it must be good! But suppose after Mikey decided he liked it, something someone else said made him change his mind. During our wine-centric travels recently, I noted something that surprised me. The group was discussing wineries, winemakers and various styles of wine. The name of a winery came up, and one of our group said, “I really liked (particular wine).” Another, more seasoned veteran said something like, “Oh, I found that to be very pedestrian. I really didn’t care for that at all.” Suddenly the former advocate started back-pedaling. “Well, I didn’t think it was all that good. Not in comparison to (other highly-rated wine).” And I thought to myself, You’re kidding, right? Someone tells you that she doesn’t like what you like, and you suddenly recant? Maybe it wasn’t as it seemed. The guy recanting wasn’t necessarily falling prey to peer pressure. Maybe he was fully confident in his ability to judge wines. Perhaps he just prefers harmony to dissonance. But being one who rarely raises the white flag immediately, it was a bit hard to fathom the sudden surrender. But what appeared on the face of things, was that because a peer didn’t care for the wine he liked, our wine friend decided that perhaps he didn’t like it as well either.
He Likes It! This is one of the reasons we at Another Wine Blog don’t rate wines and very rarely tell you about the wines we don’t like. We don’t give points, or grades, or stars, or thumbs up or down. While we do pay attention to Robert Parker, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator and Stephen Tanzer, we figure most other ratings are pretty subjective. And we figure you have enough numbers and letters to think about without our adding to the mix. Besides, if we gave you a description of the wine that sounded like we liked it, but then gave it an average score, human nature says you’re going to look at the rating and ignore the rest. So we don’t tell you what you shouldn’t drink. I mean, seriously, we’re not your parents.
But we can give you this advice about wine. If you find something you like, by all means drink it. Do not give up something you truly enjoy just because someone else doesn’t like it. The whole reason we got into this gig is because too many people believe that you have to know a lot about wine before you drink it. Or that some secret club is trying to keep itself exclusive, by pretending only those who have studied it should tell those who haven’t what is good. That’s just nonsense. So be bold. Be adventurous. Trust your own tastes. And don’t let anyone make you think something you like isn’t really good. It’s your money and your palate! Embrace it! Cheers! The WineWonkette *With apologies to Jefferson Airplane for using the verses of White Rabbit out of order. 
View Comments to “Falling Prey to Wine Rating Peer Pressure”
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July 26th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Does this mean you're going to start drinking Cougar Crack?
July 26th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Only if you post a great review of it on your blog
July 26th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Thanks for stopping by. I think so many different rating systems confuse the new wine drinker. Plus, rating systems are often just comparing one wine the rater is tasting to those she has tasted in the past. It's all too subjective for me. I say, just tell me if you like it and why you like it. Then I can taste it and form my own opinion
July 27th, 2010 at 1:57 am
Clearly, the most important aspect is that you enjoy the wine regardless of what anyone else thinks! lol. Ratings in themselves are ironically overrated.
July 27th, 2010 at 6:44 am
As shame, really – I've often had people tell me the equivalent of “I really like this one wine but I'm embarrassed to tell you about it because it's so cheap.”
My reaction usually is “well, if yuo like it and it's cheap then congrats, you win!”
July 27th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
First of all, I give you mad props for the use of Jefferson Airplane in the post. Loved it!
You are absolutely right. I think this ties in well with some other posts that I've read recently about the intimidation factor in wine. I think a lot of people are afraid to have their own opinion, and then shrink from it when they hear a more experienced wine drinker disagree. It's unfortunate that people feel this way, but I can remember being like that when I was first getting into wine. I guess those of us who have mostly gotten over our fear should just do our best to encourage people to go with their palate, and not be afraid to like what they like.
July 27th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
We just watched the Johnny Depp-as-Mad-Hatter version of Alice in Wonderland last weekend. So the song and the theme were stuck in my head! Thanks for stopping by!
July 27th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
I think sometimes the more expensive and complex wines we taste, the more we tend to prefer. I look back in some of my earlier “wine journals” at the labels and think, “you know we sure did spend a lot less on wine in those days!”
July 27th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
True. I know sometimes we have purchased a very highly rated wine and said “What's all the fuss about.” And the whole “less than 90 points” as a sales killer is just criminal!
July 28th, 2010 at 6:26 am
Amen! I only wish that my definition of cheap hadn't changed so much over the years.
July 28th, 2010 at 6:33 am
Great response, Ben. I have had people whose palates I respect rip wine that I like. At one time that would have influenced me because I figured that they must be right and that I was wrong. Now, while it may make me taste it again just to be sure, I just chalk it up to different tastes…or maybe even that they had a bad bottle. Who knows?
Drink what you like, and always be on the look out for more things to like, and you'll never go wrong, imo.
July 28th, 2010 at 9:39 am
great read WineWonkette, I sometimes am pushed by peer pressure, mostly I do not conform, I have to be me…and eat and drink what I like. great article Amy, looking forward to next one. Alice
July 28th, 2010 at 9:48 am
Wow! Maybe it's just me but that kind of comment would have spurred me on. Everyone is susceptible to some element of peer pressure, but I don't think I would backpedal to a “peer” like that! Great reminder to keep true to our own tastes.
July 28th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Thanks for your comment! I think it's easier if we don't see it is about “us” but about the wine. “Why”don't you like it? Is the thing I' usually ask, followed by “here's why I do.” Sometimes people say they don't like things because they haven't tried them in quite a while. Or again, because someone told them they shouldn't.
July 28th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Thanks!
July 29th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
HA! Yeah, all of a sudden Cornerstone Howell Mtn. Cab is looking inexpensive, right?
July 29th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Now that you mention it…can I borrow $100?
July 29th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Thanks for your comment. If everyone used the exact same rating system, then I might find it more valuable. But many of the people giving “ratings” are just doing so based on their representative palates. And of course, the smaller the sample size of wine previously tasted, the less helpful the rating. I think the key is to look at ratings as just one aspect used to describe the wine. Unfortunately, the number is often given much more weight than the description.
August 8th, 2010 at 8:05 am
I am a voracious reader of wine blogs, magazines, books etc. The reason I read so much is because there are so many different types, styles etc. of wine. I am not looking for a score because I have found that one person's high praise may not be to my taste. I just want more knowledge of wine and it gives me something to seek out at my local wine shops. I love trying new wines.
BTW, I really love “White Rabbit”
August 8th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
I am a voracious reader of wine blogs, magazines, books etc. The reason I read so much is because there are so many different types, styles etc. of wine. I am not looking for a score because I have found that one person’s high praise may not be to my taste. I just want more knowledge of wine and it gives me something to seek out at my local wine shops. I love trying new wines.
BTW, I really love “White Rabbit”