The term is trending right now, and it has caused some stir. After all, wine is neat enough already; can it elevate our soul closer to enlightenment? Probably not, but meditation wines are indeed a thing, and they’re certainly relaxing.
Let’s talk about what they are and how to make the most of them. Meditation wines might not be what you expect. You don’t need a yoga mat to enjoy these wines.
“Meditation Wine” is an expression coined by the well-known Italian wine journalist and wine critic Luigi Veronelli (1926-2004) describes them as “particularly complex, not everyday wines, which are suitable for being enjoyed sip by sip around the fire on a long winter evening and which create a bit of surprise, comforting warmth and happiness with every sip”.
What is Meditation, anyway?
There’s a slight confusion about meditation wines, and it all starts with the name we’ve given them. Meditation means different things for all of us, so how to know if wine is compatible with what we think when we hear the word meditation?
In the strictest of terms, “meditation is a devotional exercise leading to contemplation.” Distinct types of meditation help for different things. Meditation can increase your focus, help you know yourself better, or just relax. The question is, can wine help with that? It sort of can. Here’s what you need to know about meditation wine.
Can Wine Help You Meditate?
Wine is often enjoyed with food. That’s why finding the perfect wine for a meal is so interesting. A wine can contrast or complement your food. Wine and food pairings are all about finding the right balance so you don’t bore the palate, and that’s fun. Well, not all wines need food to shine. Some wines are just so complex and sophisticated that they need no food to inspire you and help you relax. These are the meditation wines.
So how to find meditation wines? Here’s the problem, we all like different things. For some people, a glass of fizzy Prosecco after a hard day’s work is their mantra. Others find meditation in well-aged red wines that have evolved into complex libations with an astounding array of aromatics also Sweet wines can be meditative as well. Nowadays, the options are truly endless!
Some wine styles are more contemplative than others. These styles often come from wine regions with centuries of vinous history, and they’re immensely pleasurable. Champagne, red Bordeaux, the Italian Barolo, a good-old Chianti, a robust Napa Cabernet, Barossa Shiraz, a sweet Sauternes, the luscious Port or the nutty Sherry. If you’re looking for a meditation wine, these are all fantastic contemplative wines to try.
Meditation is personal and intimate, and any wine can play the right notes for you. In a nutshell, if a type of wine makes your heart sing, helps you relax, a wine that’s usually a sensual experience that makes your eyes roll back in satisfaction, that’s your mediation wine.
Now that you know what meditation wines are, we’re sure you want one. So, taste, taste, taste and find your perfect slow sipper. Once you find it, never let it go.
