Wikipedia defines “Wino” in this manner: “A slang term for someone consuming large amounts of alcohol in wine form.” Right away we get the image of a derelict, reclining in a malodorous alley, tipping a bottle of a potent potable, not so neatly wrapped in a large brown paper bag to his/her lips. The person proclaims to companions: “This bottle stopped breathing, so I’m just giving it artificial respiration.”
Fortunately, this book is not meant for the same alley. My hope is that readers can enjoy a good joke, and kick back while savoring an unpretentious Chardonnay or Merlot. On the other hand, of course, you should have this book to entertain you and inform you about the glories of the “fruit of the vine.” Hence my word for you is “wino” in the affectionate form of that word.
There is a lot of pretension about wine drinking. I have a tee-shirt that says: “It’s not easy being a wine snob!” Actually, I like this one better: “My life is hell without zinfandel!”
Hopefully, this little book will be fun to read and increase the pleasure you will get from drinking wine. Wine drinking in the Middle Ages separated the civilized classes from the beer-drinking Barbarians. Here’s to Civilization.
Now that’s something we all can drink to!!
NOTE: To avoid the awkwardness of “gender inclusive” constructions, I have used the operative word “IT” to include all genders and shades thereof, including any androgynous Extra Terrestrials that may be lurking in the pumpkin patch.