I came across this post on a blog working on behalf of an Internet retailer selling interesting rare wines. I honestly don't know what to think of it:
I agree that trading up to higher quality wines yields decreasing returns in satisfaction the higher you go up. Over at XXXXXXXXX Wine Shop we're pretty sure that the biggest payoff of drinking expensive wines
isn't the flavor of the wine itself, but the emotional flavor of the
experience or occasion surrounding consumption.
Opening up
an expensive bottle of wine in public, with friends or to commemorate a
special occasion is like taking the Ferrari out for a special night in
town. The actual materials that go into the making of the vehicle might
be only marginally better than a low-market vehicle. But material
improvements aren't what the luxury car buyer (in general) really
wants. He's going for the WOW factor, and the respect and admiration of
his friends.
This is either he most honest (and therefore most pitiful) opinion ever expressed on a wine blog, or it is satire of the most subtle and well written order.
Is this blogger justifying the purchase of an expensive wine merely for the sake of feeling good about themselves? Or are the ridiculing the idea? It it's the former it's the equivalent of purchasing a hamburger for $40 because it's feels cool to order the really expensive stuff. If it's the latter, well, I applaud their sentiments, as obvious as it might be...and I like the satirical wrapping they deliver it in.
But honestly, I have no idea which it is.
