Although I had long stopped participating in WordPress’s daily writing prompts, today’s prompt immediately caught my attention.
“What’s a chapter of your life you’d title ‘The Hard Years’ – and what got you through it?”
The answer came instinctively.
It was the beginning of my journey into the world of wine.
An Unexpected Beginning
Let me take you back to 2013. Having recently moved to Delhi, I came across the city’s vibrant wine circles, which immediately caught my attention. I found myself fascinated by the world of wine and thought to myself, this is something I must pursue as a passion. I started exploring the city’s emerging wine scene. Although opportunities were still limited, every tasting, wine dinner and conversation opened the door to something new. The more I explored, the more intrigued I became.
The Turning Point
Then, one day, I received an invitation to a Winemaker’s Dinner at The Westin, Gurugram. During the dinner, as I took a bite of the rich, creamy sea bass and followed it with a sip of the paired Chardonnay, something unexpected happened. For the first time, I experienced the magic of a great wine and food pairing. It was a culinary eureka moment that made me understand why people spoke so passionately about wine and food pairing. The experience also made me realise that if I wanted to pursue my interest in wine seriously, curiosity alone would never be enough. I needed wine knowledge.
The Hard Years Begin
That decision led me to the introductory wine course – WSET Level 1, which opened the door to an entirely new discipline. Geography, geology, botany, climatology, chemistry, viticulture and winemaking suddenly became part of my everyday reading.
Level 1 only deepened my curiosity. It was soon followed by Levels 2 and 3, each revealing another layer of complexity. Every answer seemed to generate new questions, and I discovered that the more I learnt, the more there was to learn.
Yet the hard years were never about the examinations. They were about being a complete outsider.
Unlike most of other people taking these courses with me, ones who had already worked in hotels, restaurants, wine retail or import businesses, I came from an entirely different profession. I wasn’t just learning about wine – I was learning an entirely new language, culture and way of thinking.
Every chapter demanded extra effort because I had no foundation to build upon. There were moments when I wondered whether I had started too late or whether I truly belonged. But every time those doubts surfaced, curiosity won.
What Got Me Through
Looking back, I realise that my hard years were not difficult because wine was difficult. They were difficult because I had willingly chosen to become a beginner again.
And what got me through wasn’t talent or good fortune. It was curiosity, persistence and the willingness to remain a student.
Those years taught me that expertise isn’t determined by where you begin, but by your willingness to keep learning, asking questions and moving forward despite self doubt.
Looking Back
Today, when I think of that evening at Prego, I realise it was far more than just another dinner. It was the moment that quietly changed the course of my life.
Looking back now, I see that the hardest years are often the ones in which we willingly start from scratch. They demand humility, patience and perseverance, but they also become the years that shape us the most.
I wouldn’t change a thing.
