Growing up, I recall watching Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. At some point in the show, two teens from the crowd would be selected and asked to rate a new piece of music. Regardless of the scores assigned, invariably one or both of them would note that the song "had a good beat and you could dance to it." And, frankly, when you are out on the dance floor, isn’t that all you really need?

But, when selecting a wine, as with music, it also depends on your mood in terms of the way you want to dance. You wouldn’t choose U2’s hard edge lyrics if you wanted to waltz, anymore than you would Beethoven’s Fifth to do the twist. Likewise, we should consider selecting wines that match our moods.

So, why choose a wine simply because someone said it was good. Shouldn’t it also matter whether it has a good beat? And, what mood are you in tonight? That cult California Cab may just be the equivalent of a rock band for all its subtlety while a lesser-known Pinot may provide a symphony of aromas and flavors. Or, what about an obscure wine from Spain — perhaps it is a tango in the glass waiting to happen?

With so many wines from which to choose, your dance card is sure to fill up fast, but don’t rush to book the same Tom, Dick & Harry’s (aka Chardonnay, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon). Dance with the grape less traveled. As long as it has a good beat, you’ll be sure to have a wonderful time.