So I’ve started a new job in a totally different industry to my previous endeavours in wine. It’s been great, wine is now not my job, its my hobby. Although some could argue they could overlap somewhat. And even more disappointingly, gastronomy is no longer tax deductable!
In my past life, I was a jack of all trades, working for a small winery in marketing, wine clubs and wore many hats. One of these hats included tasting notes, writing about wines and assessing them against benchmarks. This is something I wish to continue via the blog. I also was an educator of sorts behind the bar. How can such a young person know so much? What course did you do? Well simply I listen, I learn, I observe and half of what I know comes naturally. Of course I went to school at 6 and was realised with the stark reality that noone else lived on a vineyard.
An honour I achieved in this position was a special credence of tradition:
Certain members of staff had been lucky enough to be labeled. I was fortunate enough to have my own Methode Champenoise. You could say I am bubbly, not cheap and showing some aged characters but then we’d have to get serious. It is a 1999 Pinot Noir Chardonnay Viognier and was absolutely divine for all its worth – fine delicate and intricate. Stone fruits from the Chardonnay and hints of Viognier enveloped by honey, nuttiness and toast.
After visiting my previous workplace today and having a great time catching up with friends (staff and customers), I was feeling a little nostalgic over my heavy glass of Viognier. Thus, this blog, an idea that I have had to make wine more approachable and help people see it the way I do has come to fruition. This little seed has “blossomed” and the blog is born.
The double entendre here is that apparently since I have left the wine industry that I have also “blossomed”. Perhaps something routine and everyday appears shiny and new when you make it fun again. I’m glad Wine can be this to me. And I hope that someone out there will share this with me.
Cheers!
