Bastards of Wine: the Rules

1: Thou shalt not worship wine, but love it.

2: Thou shalt remain curious.

3: Thou shalt question yourself.

4: Thou shalt not dress up (feathers belong on pheasants, medals on veterans or turkeys, velvet on kings).

5: Thou shalt not attack the weak. Small wines can be beautiful, and some wines are meant to be just for fun. If somebody worked very hard to make them, they deserve your respect.

6: Thou shalt smile. Wine is about smiles not frowns. Wine is about joy.

7: Thou shalt disrespect the institutes. It keeps them awake.

8: Thou shalt not be paid or bribed by the wine industry. The part that does is not the part that interests you.

9: Thou shalt drink. Bottles, and certainly the best, are not meant to stare at. They are made to drink (when ready) and the better they are the more you should share them.

10: Thou shalt respect the serious winemaker and the serious winedealer. In volume they represent a very small part of the market.

11: In supermarkets you buy milk.

12: Thou shalt not remain silent. Quality should be praised, cynicism punished.