Monday, October 23, 2006

Red and White Wine

Red and White Wine by David R. Darrow 5-3/8" x 7-1/4" (13.65cm x 18.42cm)
Oil on Canvas SOLD Collection of David P. Best
San Francisco, CA – USA

About This Painting

Life is too short for cheap wine.

I heard that line for the first time from a displaced old country cuss at a company I contracted with back in 1994. Just about everything else about this guy was decidedly unrefined. He didn't like his job, the management or the amount on his paycheck. He had an abrasive personality, the mouth of a seasoned sailor, and a temper-fuse shorter than a bit-off cork.

I don't know how I was in his office long enough for the subject to change to wine, but when he tossed that line into the air, I stopped and inquired as to what made one wine different than another, and just what is "better wine."

You should have seen how instantly I became one of his favorite people in the company for the remaining months of my contract there. And all because I asked him to explain to me his love of wine. Thereafter, he always smiled when I walked in and stood up to shake my hand and greet me. I don't remember seeing him treat anyone else the same way as he treated me after that.

My mom has always reminded me that, biblically, wine is always a symbol of celebration and joy. She's right, you know?

I ended up sitting and talking with that man for over an hour that afternoon, and he went on about the various subtleties, flavors, accents and impressions from a single sip of wine — things of which I had never heard prior. He used words like smoky, musty, oaky, and nose and legs, and finish. The entire conversation occurred without a single sample of wine for demonstration.

But wine never tasted the same after that.

No, I never turned into a wine snob, but I can tell you this, there is a difference between the same wine in a breakfast juice glass versus a fine crystal goblet.

And I am talking about the way it tastes, as well as the way it looks. It is truly a work of art in crystal.


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6 comments:

Peter Yesis said...

I really enjoy your stories everone has a deep human connection. And that painting is absolutely beautiful.

Jelaine Faunce said...

This piece is amazing. I LOVE it!

Unknown said...

Great piece! You know how to write and paint very well!

Jeffrey Hayes said...

Stunning

Rhonda Hurwitz said...

the wine and glass are both so translucent. incredible.

Larry Seiler said...

top notch stuff right here!!!! Great impact...big stuff in a small format!!!