After writing a weekly column for more than two years now one of the conversations that I've had frequently with readers is the passion that wine brings out in all of us as wine enthusiasts and consumers. Not the kind of passion that politics, or talking about our favorite sports team elicits but, passion that is more positive and emanates from the simple act of having a glass of wine with dinner, or while chatting with friends and loved ones. So what is it about the purchase of wine, the building of a wine collection and ultimately the consumption of it that leads to so much enjoyment?

For many of us this passion is driven by the fact that consumption of wine involves all of the senses.

Whether your wine of choice is white, pink or red, the appearance in the glass is evocative in itself.

The golden hues of great Chardonnay and white Burgundy, the near clear appearance of Albarino or Grner Veltliner, the palest pink of well made dry rose or the nearly opaque deep purple character of Washington State Syrah or South American Malbec, the color of wines can all be strikingly beautiful.

While many of us talk about the taste and flavor of wine, nearly 90 percent of what we think of as the taste of the wine actually comes from the aromatics. This too is where so much of the nuance of well made wine is derived. While most times we are having a glass of wine where our approach is more decadent and focused on drinking, but take some time one of these days to really get your nose down in the glass and smell the wine without taking a sip. Do it several times after swirling the wine in the glass and allowing it to warm, and if you are up for it take a couple of notes after each whiff about what you detect.

Again regardless of your varietal of choice you may perhaps pick up on aromas you never before experienced. The apple and pears and butterscotch in Chardonnay, the zippy lemon essence in Sauvignon Blanc, the "bacon fat" or smoky maple note in Syrah or the hint of violets in Cabernet Franc, they are all there and as you sit with a glass of wine this nuance in wine aromatics will show itself and convince you again about why we love wine.

The human palate is only capable of detecting four flavors - sour, bitter, saltiness and sweetness which is why 90 percent of what we pick up in wine is driven by the olfactory senses. The wine changes once it is in the mouth though and the fruit flavors shift many times becoming more intense. What also changes in the mouth though is the detection of texture in the wine. From the silky essence of Pinot Noir to the palate weight of robust Cabernet and Merlot you can definitely feel the wine's impression on your mouth, what wine geeks call "mouth feel."

The sound of wine hitting a glass, the bottom of a decanter or streaming through an aerator is also a unique experience, as is the barely detectable fizz of the bubbles in well-made Champagne and sparkling wine. Even the base of the glass speaks when giving the wine a swirl before you consume it.

The bottle shapes and labels choices for wine are virtually limitless, and while we all like to emphasize the importance of the quality of the wine, let's face it the packaging is a huge deal. This is the one area where as a retailer I can speak to the results of a well-packaged bottle of wine. When recommending wine if you have two wines priced similarly, that I feel strongly about the one with the better looking label and or bottle will always sell better.

For each of us the wine we feel most strongly about is a very personal decision, each of us will likely feel more passionate about any of the ever-increasing number of varietals and producers now available, as I have said so many times what I write about wine ought not to change how you feel about your favorite "juice." The interesting thing though is that wine does bring out these passions, and while many of us will feel the same way about spirits or beer, for wine consumers there is no more passionate drink.

If there is a topic you would like to read about or questions on wine you can email George@thedinnerpartyshop.com or make suggestions by contacting the Healthy Community section at the Coeur d'Alene Press.

George Balling is co-owner with his wife Mary Lancaster of the dinner party - a wine and table top decor shop in Coeur d'Alene by Costco. George is also the managing judge of The North Idaho Wine Rodeo and writes frequently for the online version of Coeur d'Alene Magazine at www.cdamagazine.com. You can learn more about the dinner party at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com.