American Wine Culture

The consumption and appreciation of wine among Americans has gradually given rise to a distinctively Americans wine culture.

 

One typical example of the emergence of a wine culture in the US is the fact that wine festivals have sprung up from coast to coast. What is distinctive to American wine festivals is that they appear in locations and on dates having nothing to do with wine production. Most wine festivals are targeted at the wealthy and consist of hours of lectures, seminars and structured "blind tastings" whereby participants build skills at identifying wines by smell, coloration, and taste.

 

Various terms and phrases have emerged to denote the typical sensory experiences that are basic to the induction into American wine culture. For example, when wine tasters accentuate their appreciation of the visual appearance of a wine, they use such words as "straw-colored, cloudy, casting amber" etc. To describe the olfactory properties of a wine, they use "fig and dough aromas, cherry and courant bouquet, rich on the nose" etc. When they express the oral sensations of a wine, they say it is "very restrained but broad and soft on the palate; lean and citric but with depth to the flavors and subtle texture that carries the flavor through to an impressively long finish, smooth and harmonious with a crisp acidity and long on the finish," The "wine talk "has gained more and more popularity among the American people. And American wine culture has drawn more and more attention in America.

 

 

American business culture

 

 

Appointment Alert!

Making appointments

Updated April 18, 2003

·  Prior appointments are necessary.

·  People in the United States write the month first, then the day, then the year [i.e., December 5, 2006 is written 12/5/06].

·  Generally, the working week is Monday through Friday, 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 or 6 p.m. Many people, however, work overtime.

·  Punctuality is very important for business occasions. In many U.S. cities, traffic can cause considerable delays, so be sure to allow enough driving time to your appointment. If you know that you will be late, call to let your contact know.

·  If you are invited for a meal, you should arrive promptly.

·  When invited to a cocktail party, it's usually permissible to arrive a few minutes late. On these occasions, you do not need to call ahead, even if you will be 30 minutes late.

Business Dress

Guidelines for business dress

Updated April 18, 2003

·  For a first meeting, you cannot go wrong if you dress conservatively. Afterwards, you may want to follow the example of your American counterparts.

·  In U.S. business culture, dress tends to vary. In some parts of the country--the east in particular--most people wear business suits. In other areas, such as the west coast, a more relaxed approach to dressing is the norm in many workplaces. Executives in most regions of the country, however, usually dress quite formally.

·  Business suits or dresses are often the standard attire for women. Pantsuits, in classic styles, are also acceptable. Accessorizing, which adds flair to even very simple outfits, is also practiced here.

·  When not working, feel free to dress casually. In their leisure hours, you will notice that Americans wear a wide range of casual items, such as running shoes, t-shirts, jeans, shorts, baseball caps, etc.

Conversation

Welcome topics of conversation

Updated April 18, 2003

 

Business Language

·  Almost all business is conducted in English in the United States.

·  Be aware that many Americans speak only English. Spanish is another common language due to the United States' proximity to Mexico and Central America and the large population of Spanish-speaking individuals in the country. However, English will still be used almost 100% for business deals.

·  Because many Americans speak only one language, they may not be sensitive to the difficulties of other individuals trying to speak English. They may speak fast or very loudly [as if this will help you understand them better].

·  American business language is also very idiomatic. Many Americans adopt sports terms in their business speech ["Touch base," "Ballpark figures," "Call the shots," "Team players," and "game plan" are a few examples.] Many Americans may not be aware that they are using these idioms because they seem so natural.

·  If language becomes a barrier, ask for clarification and seek understanding. If you are not totally comfortable speaking and doing business in English, hire a translator.

 

General Guidelines

·  Americans often ask, “What do you do?” [that is, “Tell me about your job and employer”] to start a conversation. This kind of question is not considered presumptuous, but rather is a way to show interest in the individual by showing interest in his or her job.

·  Compliments are exchanged frequently and are popular “conversation starters.” If you wish to make conversation with someone, you can compliment an item such as his or her clothing or a work or sports related achievement.

·  Generally, Americans like to laugh and enjoy being with people who have a sense of humour. Jokes are usually welcome, but be careful. In all situations, ethnic and religious humour should be avoided. Self-deprecating humour, however, usually goes over well.

·  Sports are very popular in the U.S., especially baseball, football [not to be confused with soccer], and basketball. Soccer [known as football in most other countries] has grown in popularity in recent years, but is not nearly as popular as these other sports.

·  Golf is another popular sport, especially among businesspeople. It is often a venue for business discussions and deals, so be prepared to play golf and talk business at the same time.

 

 

Topics to Avoid

·  Until you know a person well, avoid discussing religion, politics or other controversial subjects [i.e., abortion, racism, sexism].

 

·  Refrain from asking women if they are married. If a woman volunteers this information, however, you may ask a few polite questions about her husband and/or children.

·  Ethnic or religious jokes