If men could understand one thing about women, it's how simple life could be: Give me my wine and give me my shoes and we could live happily ever after.
I spotted a pair of fabulous Mary Janes I had to have. They were sleek and black with a not-too-pointy toe, and I loved them. To get them would mean I would be late meeting Gail and Kate at The Tasting Room. I bought the shoes and pranced my way to the Pike Place Market.
Kate and Gail, my enthusiastic shopper friends, congratulated me on my purchase and provided the proper "oohs" and "aahs." Then we began some serious tasting. From this episode bloomed the idea: If a bottle of wine were a pair of shoes, what would it be and where would it take you?
I gathered six of my closest girlfriends for a little wine tasting at my Capital Hill chateau and posed the question.
At first, this seemed ridiculous. But with a little prompting, some more talking and a wee bit more wine, ideas began to flow. We tasted raspberry and cherry, a little leather, a bit of stiletto… Then we got bolder.
It started with a crisp and happy bottle of Kennedy Shaw 2002 Auntie Meredith's Picnic Blend. With little deliberation, we agreed this was a mouthful of celebration and love. We started down a path with a white strappy sandal worn to a spring outdoor wedding. But further sampling revealed this actually is a chic, pastel pink suede mule worn to an engagement party of a confident couple who found true love by a chance meeting in the deli line at the grocery store.
Our next chosen nectar was DeLille 2002 D2, which dictated two words: Black and Prada. Rich and debonair, this would be a sleek Italian dress shoe with a laced closure that whispers refined succulence. It's consistent, stable and full of surprises. Its chivalrous manner and courtly approach might turn on a dime and whisk you off to some exotic place with grass huts. This shoe opens doors and pulls out chairs, gazes across the table and knows precisely how to pick perfect gifts.
The Hedges 2002 Three Vineyards is curious at first. Upon opening, it tastes dark, so we let it breathe and our opinion warms. This would be the kind of shoe that commands a double take. You might see it in the window of a cool boutique and even wiggle your foot into it just to see how it feels. But it doesn't demand immediate attention. It says "buy me" in a subtle, sexy way. It lingers in your mind and lurks in your daydreams, and you can't quite put your finger on why. Finally, you enlist the help of a girlfriend to come back to the store. If she likes it, then you must have it. And she likes it.
Belle Pente 2001 Pinot Noir is deceiving. It is light, with an earthy ruggedness - a mix of exhaust, smoke and dirt, attractive in much the same way as the sensuous raw odor of a man in work boots shoveling mulch. Kind of leathery and rough around the edges, with the potential hope that he cleans up well. This is a sturdy set of waterproof hiking boots - with a waffle stomp footprint.
WillaKenzie Estate 2003 Pinot Gris screams, "Don't wear white after Labor Day." The wine's sweetness was festive and unexpected. This is a purple strappy something with a high heel. It leads you to an outdoor bistro, a romantic table for two. Maybe a first date after a precarious party that you don't really want to go to. You go reluctantly, and you certainly don't expect to meet anyone. Then from across the room through the couples and the many boring people gathered in between, you meet this person and the sparks are flying - kind of like When Harry Met Sally, followed quickly by Something About Mary.
Torii Mor 2003 Pinot Noir is a shower in the fountain of youth. It is young, yes, but suave, displaying a naïve confidence. A soft leather loafer worn, just the right amount, this shoe is a little too smooth for its own good. With simple lines, it has something to say, and its long-winded soliloquy often is peppered with the word "dude." While it sits alone at a modestly crowded bar, it welcomes the company of a couple strolling in. Quick to make an inexperienced assumption, it begins a heavy flirtation with the woman sitting nearby. Finally, in an outburst of heat and spice, the man finally leans over and says, "Dude, back off. She's my girlfriend." Embarrassed by poor judgment but not by performance, it is a keen lesson learned: If they appear to be a couple, they probably are.
The Columbia Winery 2001 Chardonnay begs the question: "Can a crisp Chardonnay be a chic black boot?" We all wonder aloud. The quest for the perfect black boot, much like finding the ideal Chardonnay, can take years of meticulous exploration. Out of frustration, you might accept impostors or what you think will be suitable sales rack substitutes, but this is often temporary and before you know it, you're back on the prowl again. Finally, when you've stopped looking and least expect it, the precise style that combines class and comfort, not too formal and a sufficiently high-but-maneuverable heel reveals itself, and you know it was worth the wait.
So if the shoe fits, drink it. And keep an eye out for the Fall collection.
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