Whether you’ve been asked by your employer to complete the assessment, or have done it out of personal interest, most people have an idea of where they fall on the Myers Briggs Personality Inventory (MBTI for short). The real question is, has anyone applied these personality profiles to wine consumption? Knowing your personality type might be helpful in choosing a career, but heck, strategic drinking is just as important, right?
Let’s start with a quick refresher. The MBTI rates you on four continuums: introvert (I)/extrovert (E), sensing (S)/intuition (N), thinking (T)/feeling (F), and judging (J)/perceiving (P). It’s important to note that although the MBTI gives you a four-letter result (e.g., ISTP), it isn’t meant to pigeonhole you into a specific classification. The way you behave is often situation dependent, so even someone who is considered an introvert can behave extroverted in a given environment.
Back to the matter at hand; wine. Kelowna is known for its vast selection of awesome wineries, so much so, that it can be overwhelming to figure out where you want to go, especially if you are only there for a short period of time. Hence, I’ve created this list to help you narrow down exactly which winery to visit based on your personality type. As a final caveat before we get started, I have no experimental evidence to substantiate the claims I am about to make, so don’t take them too seriously. Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, thinker or feeler, you will probably enjoy any or all of the wineries on this list.
ENFP - The Hatch
You see life as a never-ending array of possibilities. Because you think outside of the box, you’d never stop to consider that a blend of roussanne, riesling, viognier, gewürztraminer, and perhaps pinot gris, is a tad out there. It’s that imagination and spontaneity that makes The Hatch’s care-free attitude perfect for you.
ESFP – Tantalus
You enjoy the finer things in life, so you will definitely appreciate Tantalus’ line of award-winning rieslings. Its Old Vines Riesling Natural Brut is about the closest thing I’ve ever tasted to Champagne, that doesn’t actually come from Champagne. Yeasty on the nose, with crisp acidity on the palate, it’s fun to drink, and fun is what you are all about.
INTJ - Cedar Creek
Like you, Cedar Creek has implemented a vision and seen it to completion. Its high standards have won it awards for wines like the 2013 Platinum Meritage, a deeply fruity number that would be perfect served alongside grilled steak. You think long term, so buy a case for your cellar.
ENTP - Mt. Boucherie
With less common varietals such as blaufrankisch and zweigelt, Mt. Boucherie is not afraid to break the mold and do things its own way. You’ll appreciate its ingenuity and its gregarious staff when you visit for a tasting. Like you, they’re good at reading others, which means that they are sure to pour you exactly what you want.
ISTJ - Mission Hill
You’re practical, quiet, and underneath it all, fiercely loyal. Mission Hill suits you because you appreciate the tradition of a family estate winery that has been around for well over 30 years. Sip on a glass of its Bordeaux-style Oculus while overlooking the Okanagan from its terrace restaurant. It’s the logical thing to do after all.
ISFJ – Quails’ Gate
ISFJs are generous and warm, so take advantage of Quails’ Gate’s complimentary tastings. These qualities, combined with an drive for perfectionism, make for some of the most renowned wines in the region. You can’t go wrong with a bottle of Chasselas. Buy two and pass on the good will to a friend.
ISFP - Rollingdale
You’re sweet and unassuming, just like Rollingdale’s unorthodox, almost tropical-tasting chardonnay. Conflict is something you try and avoid like the plague, so its quiet, out-of-the-way tasting room is ideal for you. You don’t have to bump shoulders with any tour buses like at some of the larger wineries in the area.
