I’ve learned over the years to be generous with wine. Many in the wine industry have taught me to be giving, and it comes back in wondrous ways.

Part of the joy of wine is sharing new discoveries, comparing tastes and nuances, and, along the way, sharing fellowship with people who are looking to explore with you. It’s a journey where weathered travelers can relate experiences with those new tender-footed wine tasters on a path less well traveled. It continually renews enthusiasm and indeed, becomes infectious.

An acquaintance of mine, for example, recently decided to sell off some of his wine collection since he was moving across the country. The collection was massive and many of the older wines were getting close to their peak dates and ready to be consumed within the next year.

I bought six of his wines at the market price. He sent me a 12-bottle mixed case with this note: “I cannot imagine these wines going to people on auction who won’t appreciate the care I took to cellar them, nor the astonishing metamorphosis that took place in the bottle. I would prefer to let them go to someone, without payment, who expresses joy about these discoveries, and share them with others, rather than someone who wants to purchase the wine because they figure they can resell the bottles for a higher price.”

Prior to purchasing the wine, I sent him two bottles of Oregon Pinot Noir, (both Patty Green Cellars Pinot Noir) just because I wanted to share with him something great from the Northwest that he might not have access to. I never asked for any money.

Another recent example occurred while I was trying a new restaurant in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, called the Wine Cellar, specializing in a large wine list. I left a message with the staff a day earlier that I would bring the owner, Jim Duncan, several bottles of wine from my collection for him to taste.

Upon arrival, the place was packed and I waited, along with others, to get a table. But the owner came up to me and said he would join us for dinner. We opened the two bottles I brought for him to taste, and before I knew it, he opened several wines he wanted me to taste. At the end of the evening, the owner not only shared dinner with us, in his busy establishment, but also shared his favorite wine. He recognized the initial offering, and upped it. I upped it right back.

It was like a wine “pay it forward,” and we were not charged the usual cork fee.

We all may know some wine collectors who will not spare a drop of a precious wine they’ve collected, but rather horde those jewels until they want to impress someone. Or, the save the great ones for themselves.

What a waste of great wine! If we want to continue growing the wine industry, especially in the United States, sharing the best of the best with those who are just learning is an absolute must.

My mother used to tell me as a child that what goes around, comes around, meaning that how you treat people will come back at you. This should be a wine anthem too.

Share it, and it comes back to you.

One of the most generous people I know who shares wine is avalonwine.com owner Jean Yates. We’ve tasted dozens of Northwest wines together and I am always amazed at her generosity to share the knowledge of current releases. Winemakers trust her because she has an incredible palate, but they also recognize that she is passionate about the wines produced in Washington and Oregon and will do what she can to spread the news.

In recent months, we’ve tasted Patty Green wines, Owen Roe, Sineann, Walla Walla Vintners and lots of wines from Andrew Will. It is always a privilege to taste with Jean, but more importantly, it reaffirms my belief that sharing wine and exposing new wines to beginning consumers offers a lifelong journey in exploration. Along the way, you meet terrific people, visit postcard-like vineyards and tasting rooms, and learn more about wine and food pairings.

But the best example I can offer is a recent wine tasting I hosted with beginning wine drinkers—many in their 20’s, but some older couples who just wanted to learn. I provided the wine; all I asked from them was to tell me their thoughts about what they were drinking, and what more they wanted to learn.

We tried three white wines, and three red wines—and Elk Cove Late Harvest Riesling, a Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, a Chehalem Reserve Pinot Gris, Brooks Pinot Noir, Owen Roe’s Abbot’s Table and Shea Vineyards Block 23 Block Pinot Noir.

The reviews were mixed because some people preferred red to white wines, and some preferred drier wines. With 14 tasters, the preference ran the alphabet.

What I concluded is people are hungry for more information, they don’t want to be intimidated by wine sales people who treat them like hayseeds, and they appreciate a “taste” before buying.

Although it is early in the year, I expect to be on more Christmas card lists this year.

That’s good enough for me. And, along the way, I hope I’ve encouraged more explorations. Instead of Christmas cards this year, I want recipe cards with wine pairings.