My passion for and enjoyment of wine is of course no secret, but almost anyone that knows me will also tell you how much I love to play a round of golf.
The other day I found this rather old blog (November 2012) about the Ultimate guide to understanding wine and golf. Its relevance has not dated though and I enjoyed reading how Tom Wark of the Fermentation wine blog, identified the similarities between wine and golf.
He started with an explanation on how both wine and golf have a common style that breaks up into different types. A golf course is not just a golf course, but you get various types – Links, Parklands, Desert courses, etc. Wine again consists out of various varietals and appellations.
He goes on to find a similarity in how in golf, two Links courses, for example, are not the same – compare St Andrews in Scotland with The Links at Fancourt in South Africa. Similarly, one wine varietal, like Chardonnay can have different types – just compare a South African Chardonnay with Chablis.
Wark concludes with how the individuality of a course can be defined by a specific hole or how a winery can be known for a specific style of wine.
Comparing golf and wine is definitely a unique activity, but if you are into both, it might be one you will enjoy.
I am in the very fortunate position to live in the Cape Winelands where both excellent wine estates and beautiful golf courses are on my doorstep. I thought of a few more things wine and golf have in common:
- Enjoying wine from your local winery or playing a round of golf on your home course, brings a sense of familiarity while playing on a foreign course or enjoying an unknown wine can be more challenging, but also exciting. On my travels I love playing on different courses and of course I enjoy trying foreign wines, but there is nothing like coming home, sipping on a glass of our own wine or teeing off with my own club in hand.
- Playing a round of golf (depending on how it goes with you on the day…) or drinking a glass of wine will sure relax you after a tough week in the office.
- Without causing you to break too much of a sweat, both are said to be good for your health.
- Both allow for excellent networking opportunities.
- Each allows for a great way to spend quality time with friends and family.
Two things I have to say about drinking wine however, it does not tempt me into wearing silly pants and it gets even better doing it when it rains!
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