The Gospel According to Iris (Editor’s Note): We’ve told you all about our friend Iris, founder of the Urban Wineauxs.  If you recall, when Joe was attending classes with the International Sommelier Guild. I had heard him talk about Iris for weeks. Every week Joe would come home from class and it was ‘Iris, this’ and ‘Iris, that’ and being the stereotypical wife, I decided I needed to see just who this Iris was.  I learned after meeting Iris that she is just as delightful as he described. And after much cajoling, we have conned convinced her to write for Another Wine Blog. We hope she’ll continue to share her love and passion with us, and you.  Enjoy!  – Amy

The Grape Conversion

For ages mankind has been in search of the ultimate plateau for inner peace and complete happiness.  Some have obtained this nirvana via organized religion and some not so organized. Regardless of the path one takes to experience this heightened awareness, all roads lead to some type of religious conversion. I am still a work in progress; however one of the paths that I chose began with my submersion into vitis vinifera.  Baptism by the grape can truly be considered a religious experience to even the most unsuspecting wine drinker. When the palate is introduced to the right varietal at that pivotal moment, whether it was accompanied by a meal or not, the flavors hit all of the important sensory points and you just want to throw your hands in the air and shout “Hallelujah!” O.K., maybe it is not that dramatic but you get the picture.

Once you have swirled, sniffed, sipped and savored and the warm tingling sensation rolls down the back of your throat and transmits a signal to your nervous system that you are transcending to a euphoric state; you then know that you have been converted. The beautiful part is, in the grape realm, you will experience multiple conversions as it applies to the various varietals.

You will find your self searching for the next service and not just on weekends; you will happily attend a mid-week service if the right juice is being served.  You will become a witness for the grape; testifying about how great the last glass or bottle of wine was that you encountered. You just can’t keep it to yourself and your excitement catches on like wildfire with your friends and all those within earshot and they to now want to experience the same joy. You have now become a disciple of the grape by leading others to the “grape conversion.”  Spreading the word that all can find peace and joy via the grape and all it has to offer.

Whether it is a bottle of Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah or Riesling, Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, Champagne, Prosecco or Cava; you will know when it happens.

Please take note that it is OK to change venues and denominations on your journey to finding this new religious identity.

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