Zen Breath 3-2-1

Note: You are receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly 3-2-1 newsletter or you subscribed to the Koi Zen Cellars newsletter. Every Friday, I share 3 wine terms, 2 quotes from me, and 1 question for you to ponder. Occasionally, I also send out long-form articles on habits and self-improvement.


"Unbalanced objects will always fall "
~ The Zen Winemaker ~

3 terms, 2 quotes, 1 question

February 25, 2022


Happy Friday! Time to wrap up this week and get ready for the next! Take a deep breath and kick off the weekend on a positive note. Let's consider where we have been, improve it, and move forward next week. Packing the most content into the least words and trying to change the world, one glass at a time.

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3 - Wine Terms - Wine Balance

The term "Balanced Wine" is tossed around frequently, however most of us have no clue on what this means. Today we will take a quick looks at four pillars of a balanced wine.

Have you ever gone to a restaurant and the table is wobbly? One or more legs are shorter than the rest and the table constantly rocks which can drive you nuts. Most people will grab the napkin, sugar packet, matchbook (though those are becoming a thing of the past) and stuff it under the offending leg - often with limited success.
Nature loves balance and abhors unbalance
Just like a table, there are four primary components in wine that need to work in harmony to create a balanced wine: Tannins, Acids, Sugar, and Alcohol. Too much or too little of something will cause the wine to feel unbalanced.

Lets consider each of these elements:
  1. Tannins - tannins dry your mouth out and can leave you feeling parched with an astringent or bitter taste.
  2. Acids - acids make you salivate and taste light and bright - refreshing.
  3. Sugar - sugars are detected on the tongue and are perceived as a thickness in the mouth.
  4. Alcohol - alcohol gives the wine body and texture which can taste hot if there is too much.
When thinking about the balance of a wine, it is easy to evaluate each component. Too many tannins and you feel parched. Too much acid you drool or gleak. Too much sugar the wine feels flat and syrupy. Too much alcohol and it tastes hot (shot of Vodka hot). It is magical when everything is in harmony.

The Gotcha: Using our table analogy, we have a perfectly balanced dining room table and we bring it outside onto the patio and it wobbles. The legs didn't change, but the environment did. So to create balance we must also take into account the surroundings. A light bright Pinot Gris will get lost on a cold stormy night and a big bold red will leave you unsatisfied on a hot summer day sitting around the pool.

The selection of the "right" bottle of wine is both an art and science. That being said, in order to select the perfect wine, your shelves better be stocked with a wide selection of wines. And if you have having trouble selecting wine - I know a guy who can help you out.

Geek Note: It is easy to confuse the taste of sugar and the smell of fruit. Sugar is detected on the tongue and fruit in the nose. So if you hold you nose when sipping and the perception goes away - it was due to fruit. If you still perceive sweetness with your nose plugged - it has residual sugar. ( Note : wines on the lower shelf in the grocery story typically have more sugar than others - also more additives and calories)

2 - Quotes from Me:


1. "Balance the mind, body, and spirit" ~ The Zen Winemaker

2. "Live life in moderation" ~ The Zen Winemaker

1 - Question to ponder:

Yin and Yang

Many of you astute observers may have noticed that Koi Zen Cellars logo is based upon the Yin Yang symbol which represents balance and harmony through the use of duality. We can not have light without dark, up without down, and in without out.

This implies that there will be good times, and bad times. Happy times and sad times. This is just part of the way things work. The key though is to try to remain balanced - the center path, or as Taoists would say - the Middle Way.

One can not achieve balance with either excess or lacking. This applies to our minds, bodies, spirits, activities, and finances. Sometimes we get unbalanced when we lose perspective of the other side. If you want to understand wealth, live in poverty. If you want to understand happiness, experience sadness. If you want to understand abundance, go without. And realize that life is a constant stream of change. What is here today will one day be gone regardless of what it is - that includes the good times and bad times.
The key to balance is to avoid the extremes and seek the middle

Question:

What are three elements in your life that are out of balance? And more importantly, what simple steps can you consistently take to achieve balance? Let me know....

P.S. Be on the lookout for the new class I will be announcing soon where we will learn simple exercises, stretches, hacks, and actions to increase balance, flexibility, clarity, and focus in life while reducing stress and tension both for the physical body and the mind.

Zen Giggles:

I was told I'll never be good at poetry because I'm dyslexic.
But so far I have made 3 jugs and a vase and they are lovely.



Ron Chestnut, 89 years of age, was stopped by the police about 2am and was asked where he was going at that time of night.

Ron replied, "I'm on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking and staying out late."

The officer asked, "Really? Who's giving that lecture at this time of night?"

Ron replied, "That would be my wife."

~~ Notice ~~

Notice where tension builds in your body and release it.

~~~

A favor:


We strive to foster a community who are excited to learn about wine and create a better world for all. We are a small business and appreciate your support. Please encourage others to subscribe to this newsletter and build the community of like minded people. And don't forget to give me some feedback on what you want to learn about - I love hearing from you.

Cheers,

Darius Miller - The Zen Winemaker

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Author of a #1 best seller:
'The Zen Winemaker - Follow Your Dreams & Overcome Your Fears'

Creator of:
'The Zen Wine Tasting Journal - Life is too short to drink bad wine, or to wear ugly underwear.'

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