Today in an ABC Liquors ad they featured Essay Wines. Hmmmmm, I thought, surely some poor writer decided that growing grapes and smashing them might be a more productive pursuit than seeking an agent and publisher? Maaaaaybe….there’s a story. There is, just not the one I wanted. The winery is located in South Africa (known for its good white wines, unironically). So the winery is ESSSSSS AAAAA (SA) or South Africa. Clever, but meh. On their website, they tip their hat to writers of essays which they say is, “…an ‘assemblage’ or blending of things to create a whole greater than its parts.” Kind of. Either way in essays and wine I don’t want them too sweet or too dry. The key is, I think, to know what you like but to be open to the experience that the creator intended.