There are days when I ask myself: “Who cares?”

In a world full of chaos, concerns and the “C” word, does anyone care, and if they do, how do they show it? Loaded questions and I ask them because of the unsettled environment within which we currently exist.

I write quite a bit about wine and that industry, along with so many others, is currently going through some tough times. To make a long story short, there’s an abundance of wine and, according to the laws of business, that should lead to a lowering of wine prices. But…

One of my go-to wines is Essential Red from Bogle. It’s very enjoyable and is a blend of spicy wines such as Old Vine Zinfandel, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a nice medium body to go along with its spicy black cherry flavors. However, here’s where today’s unsettled environment comes into play.

I know, from years of experience, the wine can be purchased for about $10-$12 per bottle. The bottle I bought now costs $16. Something’s not right there — if there’s an abundance of wine on the market, why does this particular wine cost about 33% more than before our current “C” situation?

Does this mean there’s an overwhelming demand for the wine and the buyers are driving up the market price? To a certain extent, yes.

Does anyone care about costs today or is demand more important than caring?

Another scenario: We are asked to wear masks today, and I believe we should do all we can to make ourselves safe and, by extension, those around us. Wearing a mask isn’t a panace, but wearing one shows concern and respect for the people around us.

When I don my mask and do my weekly grocery shopping, about one in four people around me are wearing masks. Don’t they care enough to take care of themselves and others? We are not insulated here in southwest Minnesota and ‘“C” can nail us at anytime.

One of my joys in life is to try a new wine and recently a bottle of Sparkplug Red Blend reached out to me. It’s a nice blend of Malbec, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot — so you know there’s going to be some hefty tastes in this wine.

The wine is aged in bourbon barrels for 45 days and this process imparts a bit of oakiness to the hefty blend. At first, I was shocked by its very heavy earthy tastes but, as I continued to sip it, the tastes came together and it is very enjoyable.

Did I care if it was a bit overpriced I did but today’s world is today’s world and not yesterday’s world.

Since my choices of wine are limited today due our travel restrictions, I turned to an old friend of mine — Barefoot Pinot Grigio — and was welcomed back to its reasonably priced green apple flavors. It was nice to taste the care that goes into this easy to drink white wine.

Caring — I like the phrase: “Caring people caring for people.” It embodies so many of the folks around us today and you all know who I mean. Yes, caring goes on everywhere today but not just in certain essential industries.

You care about your family. You show it every day, right? You care about your friends. You show it every day, right? You care for the stranger by delivering food to them. You care.

Yes, there are moments when I look around me and ask myself: “Does anyone care about those around them? Don’t they care enough about themselves to do a simple cautionary act like wearing a mask?”

My answer to all these questions is a loud and firm “YES!”

We are caring people caring for people — all of us! And, it doesn’t hurt to virtually have a glass of wine with someone –isn’t that a form of caring??

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!