Captain Vino's Story
You may ask why does a serious wine club need a superhero? Well, simply put, Captain Vino is devoted to preserving the integrity of the wine world as we envision it. He is a tireless promoter of the authentic taste of wine as it was intended to be: un-doctored, unmanipulated, naturally pure in its ineffable essence. Even though most wine enthusiasts don't know it, wine today has become globally commercialized to the point of the extinction of the natural character of the fruit of the vine as it was when it was originally discovered millennia ago.
An entire industry has grown up around this commercialization thereby institutionalizing the manipulated styles of wine seen everywhere in today's wine market. We're talking about a less than honest, corporate approach to one of the most natural products mankind has ever known. The closest drinks to nature are (in this order) water, milk, fruit juice, and wine. These four classes of original drink are far beyond the world of drinks now known to mankind. Even beer and distilled spirits (which we appreciate greatly) require a process not known in nature to be produced.
Captain Vino is not alone. You'll find that the best wine consultants in wine shops and restaurants across the land are also fierce adherents of maintaining a balance as we progress in the technological sense with the science of winemaking. Superstar winemakers, paid in the six-figure range, are bound to want to try to 'show their stuff' and that usually means some form of manipulation to fix their stamp on the wine being produced.
We all know progress is a good thing and Captain Vino is all for progressive thinking when it comes to wine production. Being a purist doesn't necessarily mean being a staunch traditionalist and Vino shouldn't be seen as the latter. Purity, however, matters big time! We love seeing new wines like the Vina Robles 'White 4', recently reviewed in our Discovery Wine section. It's anything but traditional with its blend of varietals from three different wine cultures (Spain, Italy, France). However, in terms of bouquet/flavor distinction, this wine stands out as model of vinous purity.
You can see where this is headed can't you? Captain Vino is now tussleing (is that a word?) with the most insidiously evil force threatening the world of wine enthusiasts today. His antagonists include: the Evil Acidulator, given to adding excess acid blend in the winemaking process which serves only to make the tart, candied wines seen so often on grocery store shelves and even in nice restaurants; the Fruit Bomber - known for his heavy hand with explosively high alcohols in wine which masks any subtlety the poor wine may have originally had; Crash Appletini - who promotes artificially-flavored, high-proof, saccharine-sweet drinks over wine; and Teflon Shawn - the lazy distributor/wholesaler whose infatuation with himself prevents fine wines from being made available to a thirsty-for-quality public.
In the coming months and years we hope you will get to know and love our impetuous friend, Captain Vino. He is not unlike you or I (except for the obscene tights he loves to wear!). Captain Vino is a wine lover, first and foremost, and can be seen in convivial circles imbibing a glass or two of this nectar of the gods. He's not given to hyperbole and posturing as he attempts to make his friends (other wine enthusiasts) aware of the danger of losing our birthright to enjoy one of the most wonderful drinks on earth.
Cheers!