Context - why-we-explain-what-we-do
Transparency is not an add-on for us, but rather an integral part of our professional self-image.
Explanation is not an end in itself when it comes to wine. It arises from a tension between perception and expectation. Where wine is not immediately understandable, the need for classification arises. Explanation takes the place of certainty.
In many contexts, explaining is confused with justifying. The wine explains itself because it deviates. This logic presupposes a supposed normal state. Anything that deviates from this must be justified.
Wine is not a standardized product. It arises from conditions, not from repeatability. Vintage, ripeness, time, and decisions shape states that cannot be fully predicted. Explanation becomes necessary where models reach their limits.
In this context, explanation doesn't mean making a wine better. It means making visible the framework within which it can be understood. It's not the taste that's explained, but its origin.
Explanation becomes misleading when it replaces evaluation. A wine is not experienced, but interpreted. Terms, concepts, and models take the place of perception. Explanation then becomes a filter bubble.
The limits of explanation lie where it overrides the moment. A wine accessible only through knowledge remains incomplete. Explanation can open doors, but it must not replace experience.
So why explain? Because wine needs time, and time itself has become something that requires explanation these days. Patience is no longer a given. Explanation creates a space where slow development isn't perceived as a deficiency.
Explanation is also an act of responsibility. Those who bring wine to an early stage transfer risk. Explanation can help make this risk visible without concealing it. It doesn't replace maturity, but it acknowledges its absence.
At the same time, explanation protects against oversimplification. It contradicts the expectation that every wine must be immediately pleasing. It allows for difference, tension, and unease without labeling them as flaws.
Explanation is therefore not a means of persuasion, but of classification. It places knowledge alongside perception, not above it. The wine remains the starting point, not the argument.
Properly understood, explanation is no substitute for experience. It's an invitation to listen more closely. Ultimately, a wine must stand on its own merits. Explanation can help prevent it from being dismissed prematurely.