The First Sip…
My adventure begins seven years ago when my French host father Yves sternly exclaimed: “Il ne faut pas dire non à une bouteille de 1970 Pomerol!” I had just explained to him that I had important exam the next morning called the SAT and I needed to study – not drink wine. After he refused to accept my excuse, I resigned to staying at the table for just a few more minutes to see for myself if this red liquid merited such high accolades. I quickly lifted the glass to my lips, about to pour the wine into my mouth, when I noticed the look of horror on Yves’ face. I stopped my actions, slowly lowered the glass, and patiently listened to his explanations on how to appreciate the subtle aroma of the wine’s bouquet or “nose” as the French call it. I followed his example, and discovered more than fermented grape juice, but the essence of raspberry, chocolate, and pepper. Only then did I take my first sip. He was right – you shouldn’t say no to a bottle of 1970 Pomerol. With this realization, my passion for wine was born, and, along with it, an acute interest in cooking and gastronomy. While my knowledge of food and wine has steadily grown over the years, I still consider myself a novice; however, to me learning about food and wine is an adventure… an adventure that I wish to share with others.
The Author: Kira Becvarik
Perhaps it all stems from the fact that my surname means “maker of wine barrels,” and, at an early age, I fell in love with the romantic image of my Czech ancestors making beautiful wooden barrels…only to be filled with the best wines of Western Europe. Or perhaps it was my wonderfully crazy French professor at college who supported my wine habit by always having important meetings at the local wine bar…
Whatever the reason is, as my junior year of college approached and I was offered a generous grant to research French culture, I chose to study wine. I traveled to the Côte d’Or region in France to research the economic situation of the vignerons in light of the current political changes. Little did I know, however, that I would fall in love with the rolling hills and the generations of wine makers that I interviewed.
I am currently living in Blois, France where I teach English, research wines, and eat wondrous food.
The Blog: Simmer & Sip
I first started writing Simmer & Sip with the intention of sharing my wine and food discoveries with others. You will find posts about new and exciting wines and their winemakers, how to pair the wines, and of course recipes that inspire you to drink more wine.
The Photography
My love of photography began at an early age thanks to a family full of artists. All of the photos on this blog are my own work. My photographs have also been published in the 2008 and 2009 editions of the Santa Fe Literary Review.
