It is said that variety is the spice of life. Is it?

Drawing upon our nation’s history, one can find the idea that from many comes one — meaning, that unity and strength is found by bringing together many people with a common goal. It is the blending of cultures, foods, traditions and people that brings spice into our lives. And in case you haven’t noticed it, there’s some spice in your life, too!

I am certainly not a five star chef. I might be able to make a one half star chef rating if the judges are feeling particularly beneficent that day. Yet, I enjoy trying different spices and herbs to see what new and exciting flavors can be found in the blending. In all honesty, there must be an admission that some of my experiments were not that pleasing to my taste buds. But I learned and moved on to the next experiment, and, then, onto the next one. One of these days, I’ll find that perfect blending of spices and herbs and I’ll join Julia Child in the Culinary Hall of Fame. Yea, right!

As humans, we come from the same humanoid root, and look how we have become so many differing flavors of human spices. Today, we have many differing cultures, colors, features and expression of who we are, and that’s what makes the blending of these cultures so interesting. I once asked a 95-year-old-man of Belgian ancestry how the different cultures — meaning Belgians, Norwegians, Swedish, Polish and Dutch — got along in the old days.

He replied that there were moments of conflict, but, and here he stopped to cross his two index fingers. He said one finger was a girl and the other finger was a boy, and they came together across cultural lines and traditions. Again, there’s that blending!

There are over 10,000grape varieties in the world today. Do we see everyone of these varieties in separate bottles? Of course not! That would be mind boggling, but we do taste many of them without knowing it. Many of the lesser grown grapes are used in blends, and they lend richness and unique flavors to the dominant grape variety.

What I’ve learned is that even in a California cabernet sauvignon, there just might be a little bit of another grape added to supplement the unique flavor of the wine. Many times the lesser grape is not noted, but if one digs deeply you’ll find a little known secret.

Speaking of digging deeply, did you know that many old vine Zinfandel wines are also known as Primitivo in other parts of the world. That’s not blending, but it is a common wine across cultures. Isn’t that a bit of many coming from one? Why not try a glass of Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel, and, then taste a glass of Puglia Prinitivo wine. I think you’ll find the tastes quite similar even though they are grown and produced half a world apart.

Isn’t one’s family a model of the statement that from many, comes one? Think of your families history. I doubt if it has one single root. Think of your present family. Isn’t it made up of a blending of people? And, isn’t the “flavor” of that blending so satisfying? Yes, there are those “bad grapes” in one’s grouping, and that’s where the goodness of the “good grapes” comes into play. Overall, from the many comes one — a family.

With that, it’s time for a glass of Ménage à Trois Midnight Dark Red Blend wine. The wine is made from many differing grapes including merlot, cabernet sauvigon, Pettite Syrah and Petit Verdot. The result is a luscious wine with soft spiciness flowing throughout the tasting experience. From these many differing grapes, comes one delicious wine.

Let’s always remember that our human race is a blend. That’s what gives us strength, a common flavor and connection. Life is a bowl full of many leading to one flavor.

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

Cheers!