Fermented Grapes...

.. otherwise known as wine, port, sherry etc etc & currently my work... ahhh tough eh? Had the NZ wine maker in today to introduce the new vintages and range. All I can say is yum! Can't wait for them to appear in the staff shop and of course will have to taste them in the free Friday bar!
Has actually been a rather 'tasting' week really... hours spent at the LIW&SF (1,300 exhibitors from 35 countries!) where I met up with many a tasty drop, especially a delectable little austrian trockenbeerenauslese. Can't believe that the entire Excel centre was full of wine, and the odd spirit and for the folks that came with me it was rather overwhelming. Guess if you've never been before, stuck in the office all day staring at a computer screen and crunching numbers you have no idea, at all!
Also had a wake-up call that yes, I too once knew nothing about wines & spirits (now have two certifcates though still can't figure out the dang French system of categorising wines!) and that I should not assume that folks know what to do in a tasting, let alone know about viticulture, viniculture, terrior and even why use screwcaps (stelvins) or cork! Gawd I hope I don't end up one of those pretentious, up their arse hint of lime, touch of lemon, dash of dandelion and a whisper of cat's piss types!