© Or Hiltch


Wine is the drink of romance. As we approach Valentine's Day, I wanted to share some of my story about how I got "into" wine. How I came to love the vine and make it an integral part of my life.

My parents let me try my first glass of wine at about thirteen. I never saw my parents abuse alcohol, they would have a glass or two at dinner. Whenever we had wine, my mother used nicer plates, so I automatically connected wine with elegance.

By 16, I was allowed to drink with the family. I could have one glass at dinner if my parents had one. As a teenager I could distinguish between basic wine types and found I preferred whites.

In college I really learned about wine. I took some classes, read some books and started to find (older) friends who knew more about wine than I did and learn from them. I began to try different wines than my parents' old stand-bys. I feel in love with reds.

Wines and boys quickly began to go together as I turned twenty-one. Each guy I loved had a particular wine we'd drink together. I also started to buy my own wine, trying something new every time I went shopping.

After college I started to cook with wine. I began a mission, learning how to pair wine and food. I took a part time job as a bartender at a four star, family owned restaurant. And I found my wine mentor there, Francsis, sommelier.

Nowadays, I spend my time learning from other friends who fell in love with wine. I talk to them, drink with them and still experiment with new brands. Every few years my knowledge of wine has deepened. And as my knowledge deepened, so did my romance with wine.

How did you fall in love with wine?