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Ben turbow
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1 year ago
in This isn’t Your Mother’s Spanish Winery! Children get a Crash Course in Winemaking on Catavino
Culture v. Consumption
Few would argue that what we are exposed to creates who we are. Parents who smoke often have children who smoke, most alcoholics have a parent or grandparent with the disease, and workaholic parents have workaholic children. From a young age children are indoctrinated with the culture of the society in which they live.
As an American, in America, we did not grow up with with an appreciation of wine or respect for the grape. I know little about the process, or the product. My peers and I purchase wine (this will make you all cringe) not because we know about it but it falls within a certain price point. Wine and cheese is getting drunk at somebodies house, and a wine paring is something unheard of.
From living in Spain, wine became part of my culture - the amalgamation that is currently me. I learned to sip slowly and smell the bouquet (Why? I don't know. Because I have no sense of smell.) and now appreciate wine more and have started to realize what I like and can be an educated consumer.
As culture, if something is appreciated, it is not abused.
Ryan and Gabriella have made excellent points, and counterpoints. I agree with them that education and appreciation for wine should start at a young age. At the same time it is the parents responsibility to introduce wine to children, and teach them how to appreciate it. If you gently hand a child a butterfly, few children - if any, will kill the insect, but rather will mimic the adult and treat the butterfly with respect. Children learn their behaviors from their parents and society - if wine is respected that behavior WILL be learned.
While I agree about the importance of education I do not agree with the stance that Bodegas Castiblanque is taking with their education program. As a marketer, I believe, they are trying to create consumers - roping them in at a young age before they know better. I feel that they are reaching out to a younger generation to guarantee relevance of their product in the future.
Parents need to step up in raising their children. They should not be turning to wineries to educate their children about alcohol, just as they would not turn to big tobacco to teach their kids about the benefits of smoking. Ryan is right - sex education classes do not lead to sex at a younger age. The lack of parental involvement and numerous other factors (glamorization of sex in movies and TV, perhaps) are the cause of today's children - throughout the world - having sex at a younger age. Ryan is also correct that Joe Camel did not make children smoke. However, the point of the Joe Camel argument was not that kids were smoking, but rather that children recognized Joe Camel as much as Mickey Mouse.
Educate your children! Teach them about wine, teach them about sex, teach them about their culture. Teach your children the beliefs, traditions and appreciation that you want them to have. Parents -- teach your children your passion, but don't think a business is looking out for their best interest.
Few would argue that what we are exposed to creates who we are. Parents who smoke often have children who smoke, most alcoholics have a parent or grandparent with the disease, and workaholic parents have workaholic children. From a young age children are indoctrinated with the culture of the society in which they live.
As an American, in America, we did not grow up with with an appreciation of wine or respect for the grape. I know little about the process, or the product. My peers and I purchase wine (this will make you all cringe) not because we know about it but it falls within a certain price point. Wine and cheese is getting drunk at somebodies house, and a wine paring is something unheard of.
From living in Spain, wine became part of my culture - the amalgamation that is currently me. I learned to sip slowly and smell the bouquet (Why? I don't know. Because I have no sense of smell.) and now appreciate wine more and have started to realize what I like and can be an educated consumer.
As culture, if something is appreciated, it is not abused.
Ryan and Gabriella have made excellent points, and counterpoints. I agree with them that education and appreciation for wine should start at a young age. At the same time it is the parents responsibility to introduce wine to children, and teach them how to appreciate it. If you gently hand a child a butterfly, few children - if any, will kill the insect, but rather will mimic the adult and treat the butterfly with respect. Children learn their behaviors from their parents and society - if wine is respected that behavior WILL be learned.
While I agree about the importance of education I do not agree with the stance that Bodegas Castiblanque is taking with their education program. As a marketer, I believe, they are trying to create consumers - roping them in at a young age before they know better. I feel that they are reaching out to a younger generation to guarantee relevance of their product in the future.
Parents need to step up in raising their children. They should not be turning to wineries to educate their children about alcohol, just as they would not turn to big tobacco to teach their kids about the benefits of smoking. Ryan is right - sex education classes do not lead to sex at a younger age. The lack of parental involvement and numerous other factors (glamorization of sex in movies and TV, perhaps) are the cause of today's children - throughout the world - having sex at a younger age. Ryan is also correct that Joe Camel did not make children smoke. However, the point of the Joe Camel argument was not that kids were smoking, but rather that children recognized Joe Camel as much as Mickey Mouse.
Educate your children! Teach them about wine, teach them about sex, teach them about their culture. Teach your children the beliefs, traditions and appreciation that you want them to have. Parents -- teach your children your passion, but don't think a business is looking out for their best interest.
2 years ago
in Saturday Night Wine Tasting on Catavino
I had the privilege of being one of the Americans at the “international” wine tasting on March 15th. On my short adventure to Spain, this event was the highlight of the trip! The diversity of the wine and the laughter at the table made my first wine tasting something I will never forget.
