Country music has never shied away from referencing alcohol. Most of the time, country singers tend toward liquor–whiskey or tequila–but there is a place in the genre for something softer. Wine has been the subject of many country songs, using the drink as a metaphor for love, life, and heartbreak. The three songs below are all about wine. If you’re a vineyard lover, revisit these country classics.
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“Strawberry Wine”
We’re starting with the obvious, Deana Carter‘s “Strawberry Wine.” We can’t think of a wine-centric country song that is more famous than this one. This song has transcended the country genre, earning fans from other listenerships. A significant reason for that is its timeless melody and sentiment. Like strawberry wine and seventeen / The hot July moon saw everything / My first taste of love, oh bittersweet / Green on the vine, Carter sings in this hit. Many of us remember our first love, making this song a nostalgia bomb. Carter conflates wine with blushing teenage romance. It’s a metaphor that has been used many times in songwriting, but rarely to the same success.
[RELATED: Did You Know? Trisha Yearwood Passed on Deana Carter’s Sweet Hit “Strawberry Wine”]
“Hole in the Bottle” (Kelsea Ballerini)
Plenty of country listeners have been guilty of throwing moderation out the window. Kelsea Ballerini admitted to just that in “Hole in the Bottle,” albeit while throwing some blame elsewhere. It ain’t my fault, so don’t blame me / I swear I just came here to unwind and have one drink / The way it looks, it ain’t what you thinkm / This Cabernet has a way of vanishing on me, the lyrics read. She may not be taking full accountability, but who wants to do that? We can commiserate with Ballerini and the need to escape every once in a while.
“Yesterday’s Wine” (Willie Nelson)
“Ageing like fine wine” is one of our most used idioms. Willie Nelson uses it to honor the merits that come with old age in his song, “Yesterday’s Wine.” Miracles appear / In the strangest of places / Fancy meeting you here…So sit down beside me / And tell me your story / If you think you’re like yesterday’s wine, he sings in this track. If anyone knows anything about time-honed talent, it’s Nelson. There isn’t a better artist to convey this sentiment.
(Photo by Darlene Pfister/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
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