But First Champagne

What are you doing this evening?

It’s Wednesday and honestly speaking I have not particularly planned anything for the evening. Today’s Prompt though has got me thinking.

With a brief mid week introspection, I’ve now decided to do the following three things this evening.

Evening Walk Although going for an stroll in the evening is a daily affair for us but for past few days this got interrupted due to the rains. With a sunny day today, I plan catch up on the evening walk with my better half.

Catching up on Writing Recently I started writing on my first fictional story based on a wine theme. It’s titled The Lost Kingdom of Wine. Since today I would be back from work early so I would catch up on my writing and by working on the next chapter.

The Lost Kingdom of Wine – my first attempt at fiction writing

But First Champagne Don’t get me wrong folks, I do not drink on weekdays. But First Champagne is the name of a book by David White which I’m currently reading. It’s an in depth history of champagne region and it’s wines. I would utilise the free time today evening to catch up on my reading this wonderful book.

Having planned my activities, I now look forward to reading with curiosity about what you all plan to do today evening. Cheers !!

The Wine Snob

What personality trait in people raises a red flag with you?

Image from “The New Yorker Book Of Wine Cartoons”

When you get introduced to the world of wines, you usually get conversant with certain basics elements of wine. You learn about wine terms like Tannins, Acidity etc as also about things like how to hold a glass (from its stem), how to go about tasting a wine and in general about the wine etiquette.

Whereas all such wine knowledge enables us to enjoy the wine however quite often we get carried away and starts focusing more on the technical details rather than relishing the wine in the glass.

With some people, such wine behaviour becomes an obsession. They feels pride in displaying their wine knowledge by intelligent wine descriptions or even in wine mannerisms like sniffing and swirling the wine glass. This is acceptable if done within limits and with the right intention of appreciating the wine.

However, if such a personality trait leads anyone to look down upon other wine drinkers or if he or she endeavours to belittle others or try to make them feel inferior, then it surely raises a red flag with me.

And I react by keeping a safe distance from any such wine snob.

Hope you concur with my thoughts shared above. Now I’m also eagerly looking forward to reading your answers too, on today’s prompt. Cheers !!

Eat Pray Love and Sprinkle of Wine

Describe your ideal week.

Today’s prompt comes at a time when I’m at the proverbial cross roads wherein I retire in a few weeks and enter another fascinating phase of the life’s journey. This puts me in an position of advantage from where I can, not only describe my idea of an ideal week but also pursue it in full earnest. And that makes it so exciting.

In days to come, I imagine a life full of creativity. Work shall be non linear (means not bound in a 9 to 5 mode). Activities around wine would surely be the main pursuits, since it is my passion.

If I really put it to paper then my ideal week would include a majority of the following:

Work on something which brings in not only material benefits and money but also leads to happiness. If it can be something related to wines, all the more better.

Reading It is something I should be able to do regularly on each day of the week both on wine and other topics. Fiction, non fiction, magazines, blogposts et al.

Wine Writing Again as a daily activity, to pen my thoughts on my experiences and passions, be it writing a blogpost, a research paper or in a longer perspective a wine book.

Wine Movies / Documentaries Daily. Be it movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos or documentaries on Curiosity App and Wine Masters TV etc.

Podcasts A few times in a week I would listen to selected podcasts. Some of good ones are The Wine Conversation, GuildSomm Podcast, Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy to name a few. With time I even should do my own podcast atleast once in a week.

Audiobooks Listen to some good Audiobooks daily. Apps like Headway makes this quite convenient.

Family time Weekends have to be outings with wife and son, mostly over good food and fine wine at a comfortable restaurant or club.

Travel to beautiful vineyards both in India and abroad. Frankly this can not be done every week but since we are talking about my ideal week (and there’s no embargo) so I have to include this. Tuscany, here we come !!

So I said it all and it packs the week well. Now I’m ready for reading what all of you have written about your ideal week. Have a great day.

The Lost Kingdom of Wine

CHAPTER I

Deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, a group of adventurous trekkers embarked on a journey of exploration. Little did they know, their path would lead them to an extraordinary discovery—the lost Kingdom of Wine.

They walked almost continuously for three days taking short intermittent halts. On the fourth day as evening approached, the jungle foliage got thinner. A few miles further as they emerged out of it, their eyes fell on a mesmerising sight. Right in front them was a fascinating panorama of endless fields of vines adorned with luscious grapes glistening in the golden light of the setting sun. Towards the far end was a majestic palace on a hill.

The Lost Kingdom of Wine

Dear Reader, today I have taken my first steps towards writing a wine themed fictional story. This story titled The Lost Kingdom of Wine starts with the opening paragraphs as typed above. I would keep publishing each chapter in this space as and when I finish writing it. Do share your views and comments and even suggestions as to what should happen next in the story line. Thanks and cheers.