Wine writers tend to have a tight focus on their subject – wine – and we sometimes assume that readers are as driven as we are about aroma profiles, flavors and color. We often spend too much time on the drink itself and not enough on the total experience – the wine experience. Let’s have a pop quiz.

The best wines are those that A) cost the most; B) have the highest score; C) come with screw caps; D) none of the above. I should have announced (which I think I did eight or 10 years ago) that there would be occasional pop quizzes, but the answer is D) none of the above.