Learn & Explore

Wine used to feel like a word that I wasn't invited to. I liked the thought of it... cozy wine nights in, vineyard wine tastings, you name it. But I found myself a little intimidated to participate in these activities as I felt new to the wine world. However, as I’m growing up, I’m noticing a shift in the conversation about wine between my peers and even within social media.

Gen Z + Wine?

Speaking for most twenty-somethings, there’s still so much to be learned about wine and the culture around it. Sure, that’s partly because wine has a complex history, geography, and even chemistry. But what people often forget is that our access to wine knowledge is very limited. We didn’t grow up sipping Merlot at dinner. We’ve only just recently been introduced to wine... legally.

Plus, most Gen Zers (21+) cannot afford to buy luxury bottles every time they want to drink. Sorry, but we would rather not break the bank for a single bottle of wine, not at this stage of life anyway. Clearly, the cost aspect can be a huge barrier when it comes to our experiences with wine drinking.

As we are getting older, our ideas of “fun” are changing. Instead of having a wild night out with a hangover the next morning, we may prefer a more chill wine night. But it can be very difficult to feel satisfied when you know that you’re sipping out of a $14 bottle of wine that you can barely even swallow.

The Discovery

It wasn’t until I randomly came across a brand called ADVINTAGE® that things started to shift. After browsing their website and socials, I became very intrigued by their unique products: little botanically infused droplets that you add to a glass of wine. They smooth out the acidity and enhance the overall taste profile.

I thought this was very interesting. I’ve never seen anything like this before. So I bought their ADVINTAGE® Trio Set just to try it out. Once it arrived, I had a wine night with my friends. We did a comparison test and it quite literally changed our glass of wine that was poured from our cheap wine bottle to a premium, vintage level glass of wine.

Real Proof: The NYC Blind Tasting

I decided to look into it further and saw that some studies were conducted. ADVINTAGE® hosted a blind tasting at Purple Tongue in New York City using both red and white wine (CAPRAIA Chianti Classico 2020 and ERIKSON & CARADIN Chardonnay 2021).

The Results: Out of the 121 participants, about 68% preferred the red wine with the drops over the one without it. And as for the white wine, the number jumped to 76%.

What does this mean for younger wine lovers?
It means that these drops actually work. If more experienced wine drinkers are noticing the difference, we can navigate the wine world more confidently; even if we are still figuring it all out (and staying budget friendly).

Saving Wine from "Smoke Taint"

Another interesting case study looked at how the drops worked on a Pinot Noir that was affected by wildfire smoke (yup, that’s a thing called “smoke taint”). Conducted by a sensory panel at Oregon State University, they tested whether ADVINTAGE® could improve the taste of wildfire-affected wine.

As it turns out, 64% of the participants preferred the treated wine. In fact, the study also suggested that it enhances the fruit flavors while reducing the smoke taint taste. This is a big deal because sometimes you get stuck with a bottle that just tastes... off. ADVINTAGE® drops can help prevent a glass from going to waste.

So... Am I a Wine Person Now?

I will be honest... I am still learning to love certain wines, but ADVINTAGE® has made this transition into “winehood” significantly smoother for me. I feel extremely more confident in purchasing and exploring new wines than I ever did before.

I remember the disappointment I would feel after that first sip of the cheapest supermarket wine. I can confidently say that I don’t feel that at all with ADVINTAGE®. It took the pressure off. I didn’t feel like I had to drop $100 to get the quality wine experience.

So I’m telling you now, if you ever feel like wine isn’t “your thing,” don’t cross it off completely. The problem very much could be the wine, not you. This little discovery changed my entire perspective. So I urge you to try these drops. Have a wine night in with your friends, significant other, or even by yourself.

Make Wine Approachable: Shop ADVINTAGE®