More Ignorance

I forgot to mention. I have been given the chance to play at judging again, this time in September. It's the turn of New Zealand to come under the untutored scrutiny of yours truly. Very much looking forward to it but this time I may go by train!

I am fortified

So, a pass grade in each section of the fortified wines exam. Good enough. On now to the sparkling wine and the spirits exams in June.

Not sure how I feel, but I will put in the nearly too late revision. I think I have to aim for getting the diploma rather than worrying about the grades.

Have heard, recently, from two fellow students from the last course. I hope to catch up soon.

Spent a day at the LIWF and tasted the produce of more countries than was sensible. Brazil was an interesting find. Very new world. Bags, no sackfuls, of fruit and tannin. Argentina offered an unfortified wine that weighed in at 16%!

All good fun.

I have been ignored

And jolly good fun it was, too. Sadly, I had to drop out of the French judging, but was able to take part in the assessment of German wines.

It took me a couple of flights to find my wings, but the chair judge (an MW, no less) was kind enough to say I 'held my own' with those more experienced. I was pleased with that, even if she was just being polite.

The exam in fortified wines has come and gone, but the wait for the results is expected to last another month. By this time both the sparkling and spirits exams will be due.

My good friend hosted his 60th birthday party at Berry Bros, which was both splendid and generous (made my gift seem foolish) and it was my second visit there, the first having been in his company a little earlier in the year for a tutored tasting through Gevrey Chambertin; another generous gift from The One.

Much homework to be done throughout May, with a bit of early work planned undercover of loyally supporting the Royal nuptials.

London International Wine Fair to look forward to on 18th.

Bottoms up.

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My chance to be ignored

Frank, I have good news. I am very pleased to have been accepted as an associate judge at the International Wine and Spirit Competition. 'Associate' actually means 'Pretend' as all my efforts will be, quite rightly, ignored. I do, however, relish the opportunity as I think I will learn much.

I have also registered to attend the London International Wine Fair again, which was great fun if a little lonely last year. I may attempt to recruit support.

More later.