 | | 05/19/2003 6:43 PM |
| My 8 and 9 yr olds insist on tasting everything we drink. The 8-yr. old declared that he preferred whites last nite ! We only allow them a sip. What are others' rules on this ?
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12003
| | 05/19/2003 6:49 PM |
| | My teenagers can have a glass of any wine I drink as long as it is with us at the dinner table. However, they do not like any type of wine. Every so often they'll take a sip just to remind themselves they don't like it. | |
Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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dinwiddie
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2155
| | 05/19/2003 7:43 PM |
| My son has been getting a sip of wine when we had it since he was about 10. He is now 15 and he is permitted no more than one glass of wine (usually only half a glass) with dinner on occasion at home if he wishes (he usually doesn't want more than a sip or two) Of course he looks older (and weighs about 230#) so when we go out to eat, they usually set a wine glass at his place too. He doesn't say anything and drinks his half a glass and then finishes his mother's if she doesn't want the rest of her last glass.
Of course the VC Rocks at Equinox was an exception. We had to start making him take half pours about half way thru. He slept well on the way home. | | | |
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DukeRiley
McMinnville, OR
Barrel Racker
Posts:1982
| | 05/19/2003 8:10 PM |
| I don't think we started teaching our kids to appreciate wine responsibly early enough. My son is now 22, and he went through a really rough stretch of binge drinking from 18 to about a year ago. I think he may have avoided this if we had handled things differently.
We were more relaxed with our daughter (now 19) from about 16 on, and she seems to have a much better appreciation and respect for alcohol. She also has a very good palate and now wants to make wine! I'm starting to get the "Daddy, let's start a winery..." discussion every time she comes home. This may be one habit I can't afford!  | |
Heater Allen Brewing
www.heaterallen.com | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15709
| | 05/19/2003 8:14 PM |
| | My kids didn't drink a drop of alcohol until they were 21... I think! | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12352
| | 05/19/2003 8:18 PM |
| Mine is only about a year & few months old. So, no worries, YET.
But, my father always gave us (my brother & I) a sip here & there when we were kids. His philosophy was not to make a big deal out of it & communicate that it is OK as long as you are using your head & making your own decisions (not making decisions based on what the other people say or do). And, he stated that they will learn here not on the streets… I agree with that. And, I am OK. I think...
Note: Those of you that met me...please, No comments.  | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10573
| | 05/19/2003 8:43 PM |
| My three-year old already swirls his milk. Guess it's a slippery slope.. | | | |
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JimmyV
Central Connecticut
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5015
| | 05/19/2003 9:06 PM |
| My five year old swirls her beverages, and insists on toasting and clinking our glasses at the beginning of every meal!
We don't allow her to taste, as she understands that wine is a "grown-up" drink, and she has never asked to try it. However, I allow her to stick her nose in my glass and tell me what she smells. This is absolutely fascinating, and I urge everyone to try to get a child's perspective every once in a while. Her frame of reference for smells is much different than ours, but no less acute. All on her own, without prompting, she has come up with licorice and "Magic Marker" for cabs. I happen to think that black magic marker is a perfect description for brooding Oakville cabs. And this past Saturday, she stuck her nose into a glass of '99 Beringer Sbragia Chardonnay and said: "Vanilla Ice Cream!" I'm telling you, this stuff is priceless at the family dinner table.
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Beta testing a new signature. | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11834
| | 05/19/2003 9:32 PM |
| My experience with my son (just turned 17) is similar to dinwiddie's, except that he's about 100 pounds lighter.
He's allowed to have a taste from any glass of wine I have as long as it's in the privacy of our home. When we're out, I've told him it's not appropriate in front of other people.
I'm hoping he learns to appreciate how to deal with alcohol carefully, and not by binging with his school buddies. So far, so good!
Then again, if he follows my lead, my cellar could take a major hit in the next few years! 
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 05/19/2003 11:27 PM |
| | I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who has parents much like you guys. My family allowed me a glass (well nearer 80mls) of watered down wine at the table from the age of eight. graduated to real wine at fifteen and never got into binge drinking too seriously (yes the occasional party we are all guilty of.). In fact its only been since I got into wine professionally several years ago that my alcohol consumption has gone up markedly. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 05/20/2003 1:51 AM |
| | My parents were not in to wine, but, being glorious Germans, they loved their beer (as do I). We always got a sip whenever we wanted it with dinner. While I have a few drunken stories to tell as I am sure we all have, largely, I was not in to the binge drinking thing. Alcohol, when treated used merely as a means to get trashed, can be very dangerous, and I ain't in to that, not even in the 18-21 range. Heck, as soon as I turned 21, the 'fun' of alcohol all but disappeared (only to re-emerge as this wine hobby years later). In fact, about 2 months later, I met my now Mrs. TJ, 4 and a half years after that, we got married. Who knew? | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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Brian
Grape Destemmer
Posts:76
| | 05/21/2003 2:01 AM |
| | My kids, all 3 of them (6, 3, and 1) like to taste my wine every night. I let them have taste, but no more. They know that wine, much like coffee, is grown ups domain. When they're older I imagine I'll allow/encourage consumption. I think removing the mystery of alcohol takes away some of the thrill seeking behavior later on. Just a theory, and one that I hope proves me right. | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12352
| | 05/22/2003 12:48 AM |
| | Feb15th: I think you are 100% correct. | | | |
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Brian
Grape Destemmer
Posts:76
| | 05/22/2003 12:52 AM |
| LCC- Thanks for the vote of confidence.
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Sacred Cow
Wine Thief
Posts:2764
| | 05/22/2003 2:30 AM |
| Feb15:
I agree with you too. My son, almost two, likes an occasional sip of our wine. Unfortunately, he also likes an occasional sip of "Daddy's coffee."
Mike
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Brian
Grape Destemmer
Posts:76
| | 05/23/2003 1:39 AM |
| Mike-
My kids also know not to bother Daddy until I've had my coffee.
Brian | | | |
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Sacred Cow
Wine Thief
Posts:2764
| | 05/23/2003 2:36 AM |
| Feb15:
Nice to know they are at least somewhat trainable!
Mike | | | |
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