It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood…

Grab your sweater ’cause the rooms are cold but the topics are hot!

Today’s the first WINE day of TexSom 2011, the check-in lines will be long and the scramble for seats predictable – but the day will be beautiful! How could it not? Eight hours surrounded by people whose passion for wine matches my own. In the real world of my life I am an anomaly. Even though I am in the industry, my peers and colleagues are seeking an intervention on my behalf… The rally cry is, “She needs to get a life besides wine!”

 

Well friends, I am here to tell you that this IS my life and that nothing makes me happier than wine. Period. You will never know enough about wine – reading, learning, teaching, swirling, sniffing and finally sipping… The wine is everchanging. The first sip from your glass is not the same as the last sip from the glass, the first glass from the bottle is not the same as the last, glass, this bottle is not the same as the last bottle, and so on, and so on, and so on.

 

Wine is a living, breathing thing – ever evolving, everchanging. Like me. I might seem like I’m only about one thing, but not true. The first glimpse is not the same as the last – I’m growing and changing, right before your eyes, because what you bring to the table stays with me, becomes a part of me and a part of my journey.

 

Thank you friend – won’t you be my neighbor?

 

Salud! KathyD

 

What’s your passion?

pas·sion

  /ˈpæʃən/ Show Spelled[pash-uhn] Show IPA

noun

1.  any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.

2.  strong amorous feeling or desire; love; ardor.

3.  strong sexual desire; lust.

4.  an instance or experience of strong love or sexual desire.

5.  a person toward whom one feels strong love or sexual desire.

6.  a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything: a passion for music.

7.  the object of such a fondness or desire: Accuracy became a passion with him.

 

Personally, I’d go with numbers 1,6 and 7 ~ although occasionally I’ve had a number 3 /4 winegasm-type of experience (tasting the 2003 Quintessa… I’d pay good money  just to smell that wine!).

 

Look familiar?

 So… What’s YOUR passion?

Looking forward to meeting you all ~ Salud! KathyD

TexSom 2010 Review (or, Riddle me this!)

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

What do you get when you put hundreds of professional wineaux in a room with 5,000 glasses, 175 different wines, 28 Master Sommeliers, one Master of Wine, three chemists, and one PhD of Geology?

 
The 2010 TexSom Conference, of course!

TexSom is an annual event held by the Texas Sommelier Association, a group of Texas wine professionals. This is the fifth year for the TexSom conference and it is unique in that it gathers together so many Master Sommeliers and Certified Wine Educators in one place for the purpose of sharing their knowledge and experience with others who are not as far along on their journey into the world of wine.

As a CSW I enjoyed the priviledge of attending this year’s conference and was thrilled to be in the same room with these expert wineaux, who normally charge about a thousand dollars for courses and tastings like we experienced at TexSom 2010.  Attendees paid less than $300 for the entire two-day conference and Grand Tasting!

Even though it was TEX-Som, writers, industry professionals and lecturers from around the country were in attendance. After all, this event is unprecedented. According to Drew Hendricks, co-founder of the event and director of beverage education for Pappas Restaurants in Houston, “It is unheard of anywhere else in the world to have so many Master Sommeliers and other wine experts in one place at one time, offering up their knowledge. And to think it’s right here in our own backyard!”

The classes ranged from Chardonnay Around the World, to Wine Flaws, and Geographical Influences on Northwest Wines (hence, the PhD of Geology!).

It was a terrific learning experience, and galvanizing in that it solidified in me the desire to continue my personal journey into the world of wine. I can’t really say what I’m searching for, but I’m certain there will be joy (and a LOT of wine) in the journey!

The next few posts will go over my tasting notes, session notes, and provide some photos of the experience.

SESSIONS: Chardonnay Around the World; Emerging Regions: Southern Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia; Classic German Regions and Styles; Emerging Region: Southern France from Gascony to Provence; Emerging Region: South America; and Classic Region: Portugal; Terroir Focus: Geographical Influences on Northwest Wines; Classic Region: Greece; Management of a Beverage Program; and lastly, Technical Seminar: ETS Labs Wine Flaws.

I hope you enjoy this peek into TexSom 2010!

Salud! KathyD

Tasting and Conference Room @ the Four Seasons Resort and Club

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