Happy Monday

Oh dear! Another week of the universe being a huge meanie. This time it was the loss of a job (that I was ready for really, a management restructure thing) but the loss of those work-friends has really hit me hard. People that you grow to know so well without actually being close enough to hang out for coffee. I remember details about people's lives, ask after their kids, their parents; and to suddenly not know how J's final exams went or whether A got on OK with her braces has really made me very sad. Plus, I am now officially on a very low income until something else comes bounding around the corner so there may just be a series of 'interesting ways to serve beans on toast' coming up.

The good thing about the tough weeks is that focussing on the happy stuff is a challenge and I do like a good challenge. It is really important though. Most of the time you don't have that much control over the things that happen in your life but, without meaning to sound like a self-help book, you do have control over the way you deal with them and move on. Looking for the moments of joy stops the moments of darkness, crippling self doubt, betrayal and loss from being overwhelming (yep, that has been my week).

Things that made me happy this week:

:: I finally watch "The Grand Budapest Hotel"; heartstring-tugging, hilarious and poignant. Just magical. Visually beautiful too. Just go see it.

:: This amazing chocolate pudding that a friend brought over for dinner. I haven't even edited this picture- just look at the gorgeous natural ooze.

Seeking's Adventures in Wine-derland

I remember my first wine tasting very well.

I was terrified.

I can't remember how we decided on the first cellar door, possibly someone had suggested they had good wines, it may have been on a tourist brochure; I don't know, but within minutes I knew I wanted to leave and never taste wine again.

You see up until that point I knew I really liked wine but I didn't know anything about it. I was brave though- my selections were based on the label, it had to be a 'cool bottle' and usually my budget was anywhere up to $20, but outside of these criteria I did not discriminate. While most of my mates were drinking premixes, I had found wine and I bloody well liked it. I drank sparkling in abundance. Red wine, especially shiraz, was tasty-good (and it looked grown-up and classy). I also stumbled my way through a bunch of cheap and nasty whites but every so often a colourful label choice would turn out to be drinkable, so I didn't write them off entirely.

When tasting notes go horribly wrong

I just have to share this tasting note with you. I have typed this out exactly as it is printed:

Estival 2012- 60% Gewurtztraminer 30% Chradonnay (sic) 10% Moscato Bianco

This obscure Uruguayan blend with and added Alsacian flair denotes Uruguay's traditional winemaking style and the quality of its white wines. Its silky white tones are accentuated by tart passion fruit wrapped in pineapple skins. The floral notes continue to flourish with zucchini flowers sautèed in citrus oils, amplified with an almond cream finish, that matures in ones taste.

Wow.

It might be something that was lost in translation but "silky white tones accentuated by tart passion fruit and wrapped in pineapple skins" sounds more like some sort of crazy burlesque costume than a wine. And "zucchini flowers sautèed (sic) in citrus oils amplified with an almond cream"- I'm not certain zucchini flowers need amplification, and amplification of what?

Also, they misspelled Chardonnay.

The worst part is that the tasting note actually puts people off. The label is very pretty, customers like a pretty label.....

I watch people pick it up and start to read, then put it back on the shelf. I have to be ready to intercept as soon as the bottle begins to revolve or else it is very hard to resurrect the image of this wine.

It is actually an exceptionally lovely wine, with everything you would expect from a gewurtztraminer- musk, spice and rose petals on the nose but then a surprisingly crisp palate; a little oakyness, stonefruit and citrus with stunning almost briny minerality, great acidity and a long finish (fortunately without any almond cream in sight).

If you see it in the store, you must try it, it is delicious and would be amazing with an enormous bowl of tempura seafood. And have a good chuckle at the description.

Rutherglen Wine Tour

If you are going to stay in a wine region you really must sample the wine. We ended up in Rutherglen because I was looking for a very dog-friendly B&B (see here). The other lovely thing that Must Love Dogs B&B offer, is that for a small extra fee Charlie will take you on an afternoon wine tour.
Rutherglen is an old gold rush town as well as being one of Australia's oldest wine regions. It is particularly known for it's fortified wines- as we were informed from our first venture into the town.

My guide to wine tasting

I spend my days pouring wine for people to taste in the wine store with no wine and I have learned a lot. Mostly about what not to do when tasting wine. So I thought I would share my knowledge because I am certain that I have been guilty of many faux pas over the years.

Yarra Valley Wine Tour

The Bookworm's mum came for a visit this week and so it was necessary (and a terrible hardship) to show her the Yarra Valley, Victoria's most famous wine region.

The problem with cellar door tastings is that someone usually has to drive which significantly reduces their ability to fully appreciate the cellar doors. Of course one can spit the wine out but that would be like a work day so it was the Australian Wine Tour Co. to the rescue. This was the third time I have been on their Yarra Valley tour and it is always brilliant and very very good value. For $110 (or winter special of $99) you get picked up from Melbourne city, driven to 4 wineries for tastings, lunch is included as is a glass of sparkling with cheese to finish- more on that later.