Wine defined, demystified

For Monica Chappell, wine isn't just a beverage -- it's a social unifier.

Wine is a great agent for bringing people together to talk about wine they love as well as wine they don't, Chappell said.

Since people who appreciate wine generally like to share their opinions on what they've sampled, simply stating their likes and dislikes may not be enough. So delving into a more passionate conversation using specific terms may liven up the discussion, she said.

"Your preferences help you articulate what you like from what you don't like," said Chappell, a Lafayette resident who started her career by running the marketing department of her family's winery, Stony Ridge in the Livermore Valley.

Chappell, who worked as a wine buyer for a national specialty chain, started a wine tasting group within her moms club which led to teaching her first wine class. She's been teaching wine-tasting classes at local recreation centers ever since.

"I love to demystify some of the complicated concepts of wine for students," she said. "I love explaining wine in easy-to-understand terms. Through a class, people can learn basic building blocks of wine -- tools they can use to describe the wines they like and dislike. It will also help them navigate their way in a wine shop."

Some of the terms people can use to describe their preferences include body, acidity, tannin and alcohol level.

Cathy Giroux of Lafayette said she recommends taking a wine class whether you are a novice or a sophisticated wine aficionado.

This article first appeared in the Oakland Tribune, Apr 15, 2009 | by Janice De Jesus