September 9, 2025 Plume Ridge Bottle Shop

5 Short Lighthearted Stories From The Wine World

1. The “Wrong” Wine Glass Test

A sommelier once blind-tested guests by serving the same wine in different glasses. People swore one was “more expensive” than the other proving sometimes it’s the glass, not the grape, that fools us.

2. The Auction Surprise

At a prestigious wine auction, a collector paid thousands for what he thought was an ultra-rare bottle of 18th-century Bordeaux. Later analysis showed it was… a clever refill with cheap table wine. Expensive lessons learned!

3. Champagne’s Accidental Invention

The French monk Dom Pérignon was actually trying to get rid of bubbles in his wine. When he couldn’t, he supposedly exclaimed, “I am tasting the stars!” And thus, Champagne became a celebration staple.

4. Lost in Translation

A winery in China proudly labeled its bottles “Château Lafite” in big letters… except they weren’t Lafite at all. Tourists bought them thinking they scored first growth Bordeaux. The French producers weren’t exactly amused.

5. The Vineyard Goats

One California winery tried “natural weed control” by letting goats roam the vineyards. Instead of eating weeds, the goats devoured an entire row of young vines. Let’s just say that vintage came up a little short.

Contributed by Blake Leland, Sommelier for Plume Ridge Bottle Shop.