I stumbled upon the concept of Arete while I was studying Greek Tragedy in one of my College Literature courses. I was instantly drawn to this ideal and while I have often fallen short of its realities I am diligently pursuing perfection in my own life. Drawn also to their beliefs and the relative similarities I found existing between the philosophers and scripture, I subsequently began studying more of the Greek philosophers and stumbled on to this great illustration given by Plato. While this illustration and concept can be applied to many things in life, I think it is a perfect example of where we are in regards to points, scores, and relying on someone else's palate to be our guide to understanding wine.
First I want to say that Kermit is the man! Of any one in the wine trade, past or present, there is no one I strive to be like more than him. This is a little insight from his book Adventures on the Wine Route, which if you have never read, I implore you to buy a copy today. This is just a taste of what I am trying to convey when I talk about the way we view wine and how it needs to change from chasing scores to truly enjoying and understanding wine. Kermit has a keen understanding and grasp on this truth and his book is filled with interesting tidbits on wine and winemakers as well as much wisdom. The following is in reference to the 1982 Gautiere's vin de pays wine from the Southern Rhone that retailed for $2.50.
I was given the book, The Greatest Salesman in the World written by, Og Mandino , when I took on my first management position 4 years ago. My boss said it was one of the greatest books he had ever read, and I have come to reach the same mindset. Over the course of the last 4 years I have read it several times and every time I read it I find some new nugget of wisdom. The story is great and the book is not very long at all. Although an easy read, the treasures you will find are priceless and it has given me much inspiration and fortitude to continue down the road even when it seems there is no one following.
My favorite quote in the book appears when the young salesman is just beginning his journey. He had received a treasure chest filled with scrolls of wisdom which were to help him become the Greatest Salesman in the World. The first scroll he opened has been very influential to me and is a source of comfort when I begin to question my own direction in life. This excerpt is taken from Chapter 8...
