That’s so sad that people care more about how they’ll look, instead of just drinking whatever they like.
I don't know if you've seen the movie, but Giamatti's character does come off as someone you feel really understands when wine is bad, or at least was written by people who do. It's hard to resist that.
Those who have achieved enlightenment just drink what's in front of them, shrug, and say, in the words of Thomas Hayden Church, "tastes okay to me." :)
Miles, on the other hand, is speaking of himself when he talks about his interest in Pinot Noir: "It's uh, it's thin-skinned, temperamental, ripens early. It's, you know, it's not a survivor like Cabernet, which can just grow anywhere and uh, thrive even when it's neglected. No, Pinot needs constant care and attention. You know? And in fact it can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked away corners of the world. And, and only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot's potential can then coax it into its fullest expression."
Miles is fussy. He knows he is temperamental and sensitive. "Ripens early" translates to "I may have already peaked with a previous relationship." He is bitterly aware of how much attention he needs in a relationship, and so on. It's a helpless self-awareness, knowing his flaws but being unable to act on them.
There is a mystique surrounding wine, as if it is a pure product shaped only by nature and the skill of the winemaker. The reality is that it's an engineered product full of adulterants(many natural and historical, but adulterants nevertheless. Think fining agents, acids, etc). Same with spirits. It's an industry that must produce a consistent product from highly variable inputs. Your impression of the bottle and the label also contribute to the brand/image.
People often choose the beverage that helps them identify with a story or project a certain image, not necessarily something that tastes good. Then again that's part of why their doing it. They want to signal. They need a vehicle for it.
Or are you saying, “I don’t like it when people care about how they’ll be seen so much that they can’t do whatever they like.”?
I don’t think it’s sad at all, it’s a fun reminder about how we function.
My wife and I, we just like and prefer the sweet $8 pink sweet barefoot wine. Despite having no guests, we don't touch the 'good stuff.' For no other reason than we don't like it.