My name is Max Dillon and I am currently a senior at Virginia Tech pursuing a dual degree in Smart and Sustainable Cities and Environmental Policy and Planning with a minor in Geography. After enjoying the last live section of Professor Boyer's infamous World Regions course my freshman year, I was determined to enroll in another class instructed by the "Plaid Avenger" before finishing my academic career in Blacksburg. Fortunately for me, Geography of Wine fit perfectly into my schedule this semester, and I cannot think of a better way to conclude my college experience than by receiving credit for learning about (and sipping on) an alcoholic beverage! This blog will serve as a repository of my thoughts and opinions as I adventure into the fascinating realm of wine.
Up to this point in my life, I would consider my personal experience with wine to be very limited. Similar to most young adults, I have engaged in the process of sampling various categories of alcoholic beverages in an effort to identify the drinks that taste the best to me. While wine is not incredibly high on my list of preferred beverages at the moment, it is not at the very bottom either. Generally speaking, I have learned that I tend to prefer sweeter, white wines as opposed to more bitter reds (although I must admit that conclusion is drawn from a very limited sample size). My Dad's side of the family drinks white wine (specifically Chardonnay) pretty routinely, so I guess I can credit my affinity for that particular variety of wine to genetics! As the semester moves along, I look forward to discovering new wines that I can enjoy on a regular basis.
My primary encounters with wine have come from occasionally visiting wineries with my family (only two or three total visits). Last fall, we visited the Beliveau Farm Winery located just outside of Blacksburg, Virginia to celebrate my brother's birthday, and throughout the day we participated in several wine tastings. Although my memories of the specific names of each wine have faded, I distinctly remember consuming some delightful (in addition to some rather unpleasant) cups of wine that day. Thinking back on the beautiful vineyard and landscape of the Beliveau Farm Winery, I now have a much greater appreciation for its unique terroir. As this course progresses, I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to learn about wine from an academic standpoint (its origins, the process of creating wine, wine/food pairings), while also exposing myself to the unique flavors (and health benefits) of wine that I may not have otherwise encountered.
Cheers to a great semester! (I am pictured on the left below)
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