If there are two things this world has an abundance of, it’s vineyards and cats.
Last year at Stonefield Cellars I met Noah the Cat, the vineyard’s “Official Greeter” and namesake of Stonefield’s Gato Merlot. Then there’s Red Cat, the fruity, affordable wine from New York that seems to have a high popularity simply because, well, cats are everywhere. They’re on YouTube playing instruments, taking flight, making their way into space, and even running for political office in Virginia.
I’ve even recently received a request from a friend to change the name of my wine blog to “Wine Katz,” though Congress is not in session for that vote.
Then again, Cindy the Cat’s expert opinion on all things wine-related might just be what this blog needs to gain some prestige and notoriety…
Strangely enough, neither the subject of wine nor cats seem to continue ad nauseam. Despite the heated debates, people still love to carry on about both. While I’m sure some people would shake their heads and emphatically disagree over whether a cat is methodically planning to kill you with its soul-sucking, laser beam eyes or if it’s simply an independent and sophisticated domestic pet, is it any different from the vehement analysis over wine’s flavor and value? The correlation in subjectivity between both subjects is intriguing.
Subjectivity. The creators of Freakonomics addressed this very issue in one of their recent podcasts: “The Days of Wine and Mouses.” As the episode examines:
When you take a sip of Cabernet, what are you tasting? The grape? The tannins? The oak barrel? Or is it the price?
The researchers offer an interesting and thought-provoking perspective, but instead of rehashing their findings, I’d encourage you to listen to the podcast for yourself. You can download it here.
The only thought I’d add is that perhaps the answer to subjectivity simply lies in the fact that people love to disagree. If variety is the spice of life, then wine and cats alike will continue to be tasty topics of conversation.
Veni, vidi, vino! 