Perception Is Reality.

Or is it? On the one hand, you've got the school of thought that says 'Tell the lie enough times and the lie becomes the truth'. On the other hand, you've got the 'Tell the lie enough, and you're still a liar'. I must admit that I belong to the latter. Apparently, I'm in the minority and according to this article, I wouldn't make a great 'first date'. Not that I'm available, the F.A. might have a few words about that.

New Survey Pairs Wine With the Personalities, Prospective Dates and Favorite Occasions of Single Men and Women Nationwide

I will not dwell on this fact, but I feel it is worth noting. This study was commisioned (at least, in part) by The Australian Wine Bureau. I mention this not to imply some sort of potential bias, but one has to wonder:

"Match.com polled more than 2,300 single men and women nationwide and found that 62 percent believe that their date's choice of beverage provides insight into their lifestyle, and 52 percent felt that it is indicative of their personality."

A quick poll of the shop (me,myself, and I) came back with a 100% on both lifestyle and personality. And yet, how many hotties do you see knocking back Cosmos with guys drinking Miller Lite. The insight that I get is that they're both idiots.

" More than seven in 10 survey respondents (72 percent) agree that knowledge about wine makes a member of the opposite sex more attractive."

Why could this be? Is it that a knowledge of wine implies that he/she is worldly? Educated? Or maybe, in keeping with most peoples' perception that one must be loaded to 'understand' wine, it could mean cash. I don't know. But looking at 'reality t.v.', my money's on the number three to win.

"When asked what wine-inspired characteristic best describes their ideal partner, Americans responded that they are most looking for someone who is fun (63 percent), a trait respondents felt best described Australian wines over any other United States' import...."

What exactly does this mean? In all the wines that I have tasted, and all the wine notes that I have written, I have never used the descriptor 'fun'. Of course, it's fun to get loaded on a bunch of wine, but do I want my wine to be fun too?

"...Accordingly, singles chose wines from Australia as the imported wine that best reflects their style of partner with nearly 64 percent indicating they would be interested in dating someone from Australia."

Another one that I don't really understand. What does this say about Americans? I had no idea that Crocodile Dundee, Steve Erwin, and Mel Gibson had such a draw. Maybe it's the accent. Or maybe, the people polled are idiots.

"Australia is typically associated with adventure, excitement and romance, so there is no better way to communicate these qualities than by ordering an Australian wine," said Jan Stuebing, director of Australian Wine Bureau. "And selecting an Australian wine to complement every stage of romance, from the first date, to the wedding day and then throughout life together, is easy because Australia produces great wines for every palate, wallet, and occasion."

Mr. Stuebing, I have three words for you: Tour de France. If you watch more than 10 minutes of this race (at any stage) and don't get excited, don't have the urge to travel, and don't yearn for a bottle of something from wherever they are, you should check your pulse.

Personality perceptions associated with the top U.S. imported wine countries:

-- Ordering a wine from Australia conveys the message that a person is adventurous (62 percent) and fun (32 percent).
-- A person that drinks French wine is viewed as pretentious (76 percent) and high-maintenance (65 percent).
-- Sexy (40 percent) and stylish (37 percent) were personality traits used to describe a person who orders a wine from Italy.

So after reading this, it is painfully obvious that this survey tells you very little, if anything about wine and its role in dating/romance. It shows that people apply the same gross generalizations that they harbor about countries/cultures to the wines produced in them, respectively:

Australia = Cute accent and a Bloomin' Onion

France = Arrogant and Rude

Italy = Shoes (shoes, shoes), Leather Goods (shoes), and Exotic Cars,

"Additional survey findings:

-- The type of drink someone orders has the potential to pique the interest of their prospective partners. When asked which person they would be the most interested in meeting, respondents overwhelmingly chose someone who orders wine from Australia (53 percent) over someone who orders a vodka from Russia (18 percent), a beer from Belgium (15 percent) or a Port from Portugal (14 percent).
-- Eighty-three percent of singles agree that a glass of wine can make an already special moment even more romantic.
-- Ordering a glass of wine for that special occasion does not have to be expensive. Fifty-nine percent of women and 47 percent of men are not willing to spend more than $25 on a bottle of wine on a first date.
-- Overall, men were more likely than women to indicate that they have a great knowledge of wine."

Step by step, here goes:
#1. Seriously, just imagine for one second what the average person in this survey knows about alcohol and its quality/origin. I would argue that most people have no clue about the ties of these libations and where they come from. I imagine even fewer could pick out Portugal, Belgium, or even Russia on a map.
#2. No comment.
#3. I think this says that people are generally cheap. If it were me (and it's not, I have a lady), I would order a good bottle, regardless of price. Reason being, if the date sucks, at least the wine won't disappoint.
#4. I don't doubt this, but I have found it to be untrue. The thing is that the woman is generally more guarded when it comes to spouting off about wine. That is to say they don't wear whatever knowledge (or lack thereof) on their sleeve. The men, on the other hand, generally feel obligated to start yammering on about all things senseless.


Oh, to be an Aussie dude with a trunk full of [YellowTail].