Wondering Through the World of Wine

  Hipster trends. I have to say, I tend to avoid them like the plague. I have personally found these kitschy novelties as something for people to blast on their social media pages or to brag on, as if they actually accomplished something monumental. Sorry, but in simple terms, I have found them rather annoying.               A recent hype that has been hitting wine publications, that I chalked up to another short-lived whimsy of the hipster-minded, has been the focus on listening bars. These establishments, also known as record bars, vinyl bars, or hi-fi bars, are exactly what they sound like. This is a place where people go to get a drink and listen to records.               Based on the jazz kissa listening rooms that were popular in Japan in the 1950s, these bars are unique in the fact that the main attraction is the music. Records are chosen in v...

  Change is such an interesting concept. It doesn’t matter if it is a good change or a bad, a big change or a small, most humans are hesitant to take the step for fear of the unknown.               I have experienced a lot of changes in my life lately, with the most important one being introducing a new dog into our family. All of these changes have been good, and all of them have been stressful. As I have navigated through these shifting winds, it has truly fascinated me how one little life alteration can simultaneously bring a flutter of excitement and a pang of panic, making me feel like I am on a never-ending rollercoaster. Then, as the dust settles and life flows into a new routine, I am amazed that what caused so many emotions a week ago now feels normal, like it has always been. All of this reflection weirdly got me thinking about my palate and the changes it has gone through during my journey as a wine consu...