i still hate wine and any form of alcohol, but i think it's because alcohol itself tastes incredibly bitter to me. like... black tea that has been steeping for 2 days. never enjoyed the fiery feel of it either as it goes down. at first i had thought it was the wine i tried itself, but after several brands and varieties, from merlot to pinot noir to a supersweet wine (HA!), i started to catch on that they all had one thing in common.
i do like using it for beef stew though. i see it in the same light as soy sauce - great for flavoring but you wouldn't want to drink it by itself.
i didn't even realize ethanol had a taste before i looked it up - apparently it does for some people. i guess my combination of genetics plus being a supertaster means i'm never going to experience what it's like to get flat out drunk.
which reminds me - what type of wine is the best for making beef stew anyways?