I can imagine. How old were you on your first trip to Europe and which country were you in at the tme?
Actually, it was just a few months before I turned 38. I had already learned to enjoy wine with my dinners, but this experience of bread and wine only was new. It was in France and Spain.
That's also when I learned to enjoy European wines. I mean, I'm a Californian, and we're famous for our wines; but it seemed to me that the American palate preferred heavier, more full-bodied wines -- suitable as stand-alone drinks. I found the European wines lighter -- complementing, not overpowering the food.