“Wine is the most civilized thing in the world.”

“Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”

“Of all the world's civilizations, America was the one that most needed losers.”

“The fundamental difference between civilized and indigenous ways of being is that for even the most open-minded of the civilized, listening to the natural world is a metaphor. For traditional indigenous peoples it is not a metaphor; it is how you relate to the real world.”

“The most important things are actually the easiest to obtain: great friends, good food, and a decent bottle of wine.”

“Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized.”