Rational Wine

A Life Through The Lens Of Wine

  • Home
  • New? Start Here
  • About Me
  • Philosophy
  • Words To Live By
  • Archives
  • Gallery
  • The Essentials
  • Rational Wine Note
  • The 7 Key Wine Concepts (FREE BOOK)
  • Wine Consultations

Reflections on 2019

By Mark Law 1 Comment

Midnight, 1 Jan 2019

Upon reflection, 2019 began and ended for me in the same way: with fireworks.

3 hours later…

I was working on both occasions, with not a bad vantage point for Sydney’s famous New Year’s Eve fireworks display.

But just because the year began and ended similarly, it doesn’t mean that nothing happened in between.

Studying Germany

January

Only six months into the job, I was still feeling very new with lots of things to learn.

I was also getting my studies for my second attempt at the Advanced Sommelier Exams into gear.

Checking out the deer in Nara

February

Somehow the opportunity arose to holiday to Japan with my younger brother, so my usual work and studies were put on hold.

Not that they were ever far behind – I ended up purchasing 3 bottles of Nikka from the Barrel, a Japanese whisky, for the price I would have paid for just one bottle back in Australia.

Almost a decade old for around AUD$15

A 2010 vintage Spanish Gran Reserva Tempranillo from Valdepenas did not go unappreciated either, for what I thought was a bargain price of 980 Yen!!!

Other impressive wines could be found, but was beyond my budget at the time…

Bordeaux in Japan

Some exotic wines that I have never seen in Australia…

Georgian wines in clay bottles?!

Some things couldn’t be found though, even if you did have the money.

We also managed to fit in a visit to Yamazaki Distillery, and I enjoyed a tasting of some of these rare gems.

Yamazaki Distillery tasting room
Yamazaki 18YO, Hakushu 18YO and Hibiki 21YO

And all too soon the holiday was over…

March

The King of Champagne

Returning to work, naturally a tasting of Krug Champagne was in order.

Studies resumed, and training for Tasting became more regular, with even a few of my colleagues getting into the fun of it.

“Wine #1 is a white wine, clear, bright…”

April

Suddenly I am traveling again. What the heck?

This time it was with my girlfriend. To be fair, we had been overdue a nice long trip together, and there was never going to be a perfect time, so why not now?

Osaka Castle

It was less about wine and spirits this time. We visited one of her childhood dream destinations, Universal Studios, where I got my first taste of (non-alcoholic) Butterbeer.

Butterbeer at Hogwarts

We rode bicycles around Mount Fuji…

Snow-capped perfection

And of course what childhood dream would be complete without Disneyland?

Fireworks in Disneyland

May

Back to work, and studies are intensifying again.

Getting a start on Central and Southern Italy

June

More studying, more tasting. A special highlight was a tasting hosted by New Zealand Wines.

Tasting hosted by New Zealand Wines

July

More studying…

The Pearl of Burgundy

And more tasting, both conventional and unusual.

Fifteen non-wine beverages to identify. Is it whiskey, vodka, tequila, sherry, port, or something else?

And I found out I was granted one of 12 places for the Sommeliers Australia Scholarship.

August

Taste Champagne, a Champagne showcase hosted by Tyson Stelzer, was on the calendar for this month.

36 Champagnes in one room

Then it was time to fly to Melbourne for the Sommelier’s Australia Scholarship.

Without a doubt, this was one of the most intense and educational experiences of my life.

To sit in a room with eleven of my peers, guided by some of the wine industry’s top leaders, in tasting some of the most iconic examples of wines from around the world, this was an experience money simply couldn’t buy.

Class is in session
Just a few white Burgundies to start…
Sangiovese, both Old and New World
Pinot Noir bracket
Syrah of the world
Everything tasted over three days

A sincere thanks once again to Sommeliers Australia for hosting such an incredible event, and to De Bortoli wines who sponsored my spot in the scholarship.

September

Training with tasting again, but the exam is getting closer…

This was the big month for me.

Months of studying and training my tasting technique, boiling down to this exam.

I passed Theory.

I passed Service…

… but I fell short on Tasting.

Tears were spilled.

How could I have failed Tasting, something I passed the first time?

But what’s done is done. Instead, I try to focus on my win, passing Theory, which I had failed the first time.

Next time, for sure.

October

Drowning my sorrows with Champagne

I was kindly invited by De Bortoli, my sponsor for the Sommeliers Australia Scholarship, to attend a Champagne Veuve Fourny event.

It also happened to be on a boat.

Veuve Fourny & Fils
Cheers to you, Sydney

Another Veuve, Clicquot, was also showcasing their 2008 release of their rosé Champagne, which I was fortunate enough to attend.

Arriving at Headquarters
The lineup
The main event

November

Attended a masterclass on Loire Valley Chenin Blanc, hosted by Franck Moreau MS. Any focus on the Loire Valley is appreciated, as it’s a huge region with such a diversity of wines to offer.

Useful study materials
I’m not the only one interested in Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley!
One word: luscious

The newest (8th) edition of the World Atlas of Wine was also released, and I didn’t hesitate to order a copy.

Massive update

My birthday also happened to be in this month, and my girlfriend surprised me by organising a day trip to the Hunter Valley.

Vinden Wines
Posing with Angus Vinden

December

Can you see it?

The busiest month of the year for hospitality professionals.

Sadly it was made more challenging by bushfire smoke, which you may have heard about in the news.

It became really bad near the beginning of the month, but seems to have toned down for now.

Camping outside to see the fireworks

Fortunately for those camping out to see the New Year’s Eve fireworks the air was clear enough.

Those outside were waiting for the final ten-second countdown.

My countdown began at 5pm, when the first guests sat down for their dinner.

By the time the night was over, we would have served just under 300 guests, most having at least seven courses. With wines to match.

Happy New Year

Without a doubt, it was the most challenging service of 2019.

But I’m sure my colleagues and I were able to welcome our guests into the New Year on a high note.

Here’s to 2020

As one year ends, another begins.

I already have some plans made, with the most important being to pass the Advanced Sommelier Exam in 2020.

Otherwise, I’m sure Life will have other plans for me as well.

Cheers,

Mark Law DipWSET

Read more: 2018 – A Review

Related Posts

  • Reflections on 2020Reflections on 2020
  • Rational Wine Is Now On YouTube (and other musings)Rational Wine Is Now On YouTube (and other musings)
  • Growing as a SommelierGrowing as a Sommelier
  • My experience of the Advanced Wine Assessment CourseMy experience of the Advanced Wine Assessment Course

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Telegram
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • Print

Related

January 4, 2020 Filed Under: Day In The Life

Subscribe via Email

Subscribe to Rational Wine and receive weekly reviews, articles, opinions and more!

Get My FREE Book

3D_7KWC_Reduced

Buy A Consultation

ConsultWineTemplate

Follow Rational Wine

  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Topics

  • Blog Announcements (21)
  • Day In The Life (35)
  • Impromptu Pairings (1)
  • The Essentials (8)
  • Thinking Sober (53)
  • Uncategorized (3)
  • Wine Experiments (5)
  • Wine Regions (9)
  • Wine Reviews (55)

Buy A Consultation

ConsultWineTemplate

Recent Posts

  • My experience of the Advanced Wine Assessment Course
  • Reflections on 2020
  • 2012 Campo Viejo Rioja Gran Reserva (or, How To Read A Wine Label)
  • New Video: Wine Vintages
  • New Video: Red Wine Grapes

Recent Comments

  • My experience of the Advanced Wine Assessment Course on Advanced Sommelier Exam – Second Attempt
  • Reflections on 2020 on Advanced Sommelier Exam – Second Attempt
  • Reflections on 2020 on Reflections on 2019
  • Reflections on 2020 on Will Sommeliers Go Out Of Fashion?
  • Reflections on 2020 on Hello, My Name Is Mark Law DipWSET

Copyright Rational Wine © 2013–2023 · Rational Wine · Consult Wine · The 7 Key Wine Concepts · Contact

 

Loading Comments...