Back to the start

I have booked myself onto a 'Vine to Glass' introduction to the world of wine.

I want to recapture the fresh eyes of the novice,  so that I can accurately assess whether I could be capable of leading similar classes myself.

I will report back after the event.

Why stop here?

In an act of great cunning, the school sent not only a letter and a certificate,  but also an application form for the level 5 honours diploma.

The highest mark and most complimentary feedback I achieved during level 4 was for the unit 1 assignment.  Level 5 seems similar in nature,  just a bit bigger and with greater scope for personal preference.

Compared to level 4 it is really not  expensive.

Oh dear,  I don't think I can resist. .......

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome

The nice lady at WSET said I am now entitled to use the  post nominals AIWS.

Fantastic! I was pleased.

So I decided to look into it a little further.

Apparently it means the following:

Alice-in-Wonderland syndrome (AIWS, named after the novel written by Lewis Carroll), also known as Todd's syndrome or lilliputian hallucinations, is a disorienting neurological condition that affects human perception. Sufferers may experience micropsia, macropsia, or size distortion of other sensory modalities. A temporary condition, it is often associated with migraines, brain tumors, and the use of psychoactive drugs. It can also present as the initial sign of the Epstein-Barr Virus (see mononucleosis).Anecdotal reports suggest that the symptoms of AIWS are fairly common in childhood, with many people growing out of them in their teens. It appears that AIWS is also a common experience at sleep onset. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome can be caused by abnormal amounts of electrical activity causing abnormal blood flow in the parts of the brain that process visual perception and texture.

Cool.

Well, that's nice

Frank, I am happy to report that it has all been worthwhile.

Now what?

It's the waiting that gets to you

I am 7/12's through the waiting time.

Being stupid, I am beginning to feel optimistic.

Will I ever learn?

Snatching defeat....

.....from the jaws of victory,  in case you are unfamiliar with the expression.

500 available,  275 required.

VDP is, as a French chum has just pointed out, differs from VdP. Sigh. -20 points.

Noble One,  despite being an Aussie Semillon (what do you call an Australian with a Semillon?), does not come from the Hunter Valley,  but Riverina, ffs. How? -50, probably.

Work in a Medoc vineyard?  Not strong. -50?

What makes Sauvignon Blanc popular with consumers and producers?  Hmm. -30 at best.

Amarone and friends could net 70, so call that -30 as well

That's -180. I need 95 points from 4 paragraphs (max 20 each) and the half of Q1, which was all Entre-Duex-Mers (max 50).

Say -20 on the Bordeaux. Can only afford to drop 25 on the paragraphs.

Three 16s and one 17 needed.

Big Sigh. Just hope they let me do it again.

Judgement Day

And this time not the wines but yours truly.

Resitting the unit 3 theory paper in 45 minutes.  Need a comfort break.

Wish me luck.

A grand day out

My 4th visit to the London  International Wine Fair proved to be the best to date.  And the last. No 'International' next year and a shorter journey.  So that's good. More importantly I hope to be registering as something other than 'student' next year.

The Spanish gig appears to be going ahead and I am looking forward to that.

The revision is going in the right direction,  but is there enough time?  I find out in 12 days. Stay with me; I need the support.

A day in Tuscany

Have just returned from another very enjoyable day at the IWSC. I have to admit that after 54 fairly high acid and tannic reds, the stunning Prosecco (which one very experienced judge awarded 98 points) was very welcome indeed.

All good stuff, but the final wine of the day was a gold medal winning, Sangiovese-based Vin Santo.

Vermentino may feature on my shopping list soon, too.

If all goes well on 5th June, I Am not sure l will continue to qualify as an associate on the basis of my studies. l hope to get on the list on a more permanent basis.

l have drawn up a revision plan for the remaining five weeks. l May have to avoid the day job.

Next stop LIWF.

Chin chin.

French Fancy

Tomorrow I am popping down to where Jezza and the boys play like overgrown kids by driving badly, so that I can once again pretend to know enough to judge wine.

France will provide the candidates, which is nice, but the real attraction for me will be the real judges. A very good and welcoming bunch last year, so I am looking forward to the day.

I also like the pens.

I hope I can avoid looking too foolish and would love to get an invitation, or two, to absolutely anything.

I will let you know.

First Gigs?

I have been asked to run a couple of tastings.

One for a friend and some mutual chums, and one for the University of the Third Age (U3A). All I need to do now is try to work out what I do, and do not, know.

The U3A tasting will be in the autumn,  as one of a series of three covering the wines of Spain. The other is most likely to cover whatever the Wine Society had on offer.

I seem

Why do I still not know anything?

I am having a shaky moment. I just looked at some past papers and, despite all the reading, don't feel any better equipped for this June than I was for the last.

I have 16 weeks (slightly less) left to go and am in danger of planning as efficiently as Beaker from the Muppets.

Meep.

So. I will move from reading to writing. I will only read when I cannot write. There is a strong possibility that I will be reading again before bedtime.

Stay with me. I need the support.

Back to school

Just home from a very enjoyable tasting on seven sparkling wines.

Moving through Martini Asti through Prosecco, rose Cava, through Aussie fizz to Lanson black and Nyetimber.

Finished on red sparkler from Cornwall. Stick to the pasties, boys.

Seven down, One left

So, dear friend, I have reached the home straight.

The closed-book case study on wine tourism rated a merit, and I am keen to see whether it was a good enough merit to provide a distinction for the whole of unit 1. The assignment was very well received and I would like to see that reflected in the final mark.

The spirits retake was just good enough. On the first attempt my tasting let me down. This time I floundered on Guyanan Rum, but was granted a pass, on balance. I am grateful for that.

I am reading fairly widely, but I need more structure if enough of it is to stick and be retrievable in June.

I was very pleased to see some familiar names in the WSET Yearbook; well done all. There were other names missing and I hope that means we may be able to share a celebration at the Guildhall next January.

I have decided to rejoin the school where it all started, if they will have me, as a way of keeping me on my toes. I need all the help I can get, to keep focussed.

I have two dates at the IWSC; one for France, the other Italy, and this will be my third year as an associate judge. Will I ever be good enough to warrant an invitation? Probably not, but let's keep trying.

Bottoms up.