Kakao Brunchbook 6th Publishing Project Special Award Winner
Wine flows into the Glencairn glass -- deep ruby radiance, bewitching color. Swirling the glass gently. A vibrant aroma flies into the nostrils. Thirst rushes in. Lifting the glass to the lips. Slowly tilting. Wine flows over the tongue. Sweetness and smoothness. Closing eyes, sketching an image. "How should I start with wine? It is too difficult and complicated." This is something often heard at lunch or dinner gatherings these days. Since writing about wine, these questions come frequently. The wine classification system origin: the Bordeaux 1855 Classification was created at Napoleon III request for the Paris Universal Exhibition -- a hierarchy of wine estates from Premier Cru (first growth) to Fifth Growth based on reputation and price at the time; the classification has remained almost unchanged for 170 years (Mouton Rothschild was upgraded from Second to First Growth in 1973 -- the only change); the lesson for leadership: a single definitive evaluation by a powerful authority (Napoleon III request to the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce) can determine how something is valued for generations; leaders who establish frameworks and classifications shape how others perceive value long after the original context is forgotten. The leadership word parallel: like the emperor word that created the wine classification, a leader word carries weight that shapes the behavior and self-perception of those who receive it -- a single word of recognition or dismissal from a respected authority can define someone career trajectory or self-confidence for years.
