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• 'Till the last drop: bidding wine-lovers farewell

So long, Champaign-Urbana. This will be the last time I address thee, at least from this specific media form. It seems that CU is a breeding ground of “goodbyes” and “farewells”. Such is the nature of a transient college town, I suppose.

Of course I will miss the cornfields, I will certainly miss the surprisingly-well-stocked-wine-cellar-for-a-small-midwestern-city aspect of the town, but mostly I will miss the people. The people are what make any place special, and my time spent here, wine glass in hand or not, has been intoxicatingly magical.

However. I must confess, some of my fondest memories did include at least one bottle of wine. I just can’t help but to romanticize all aspects of wine. There’s too much well-defined and course-altering history associated with this ancient libation. On a more personal level, wine tastings always provided me with something to learn and inspired stories to be shared. Indeed, wine and CU have been good to me. I never would have imagined on my virgin journey down to Urbana for my freshman year that I would have had the experiences I have had, and I feel privileged.

No matter your tastes and preferences, Champaign-Urbana is a vibrant community with cultural treats hidden at every corner and in every building. I’ve learned so much about myself, others, wine, international relations, and the way the world works, among other things. Contrary to what some naysayers think, Champaign-Urbana is a wealth of opportunities.