 My
wine interest started in the 60s when enjoying a bottle of Chateau Tahbilk
aboard S.S. Strathnaver; en-route for Australia. I knew I had been bitten by the
wine bug when I found myself reading Wine Catalogues and memorising names and
places.
In
the early 90s having acquired the WSET Higher Certificate, I started my first
wine class which spawned the Wine Appreciation Society of Penrith at the end of
the course, and of which I am now the Honorary Life President (Now over 60
members).
Someone
in the wine class had the bright idea that I should arrange a vineyard trip and
in 1994 the first wine holiday was arranged, when we visited Reims and Alsace.
Other trips to followed, to Burgundy and Jura in 1996, The Loire 1998, and to
both Bordeaux and Alsace in 1999. In
2000, on The Grand Millennium Tour, we visited French vineyards in the Champagne
and Burgundy areas and the Oltrepo Pavese, Tuscany and Francia Corta areas of
Italy. The weather was terrible, but the hosts were warm and friendly, and the
wines were superb.
Closer
to home, I have arranged Tutored Tasting Wine Cruises aboard M.V. Raven on Lake
Ullswater.
The
wine holidays will continue, subject to demand, and I keep busy giving evening
classes, talks and tutored tastings to Wine Societies and consumer groups
throughout Cumbria and Lancashire. I
am always ready to travel further afield when requested.
My
latest venture will be tutored wine tasting “Weekend Breaks”, in the Lake
District. Watch this space! (See website www.wineofcourse.co.uk
) |
