Current wine blogs

I note Robert over at The Wine Conversation has republished his list of UK blogs and is seeking updates. Given my previous post about my desire to re-energise my wine adventures I’m going to take the opportunity to check out some of the ones on Robert’s list that have slipped below my radar.

During my Diploma studies I found that I kept referring to the same ones over and over again. These were;

• Jancis Robinson’s Purple Pages – not strictly a “blog” but from the sheer volume of authoritative and quality updates this is the most useful site I use
• Jamie Goode's Wine Anorak – given his scientific background he is always informative and is well travelled. The wines he tastes also are just the wines I want to taste/usually can afford
• Andrew Jefford – he has a unique writing style and any Diploma student who wants to learn more about wines having a "sense of place" would be well advised to follow Andrew’s writings
• Simon Woods – I like his sense of humour and irreverent approach and the wines he tastes again are the ones I want to/ought to be tasting
• Robert Macintosh – his sheer drive in promoting the use of the web and social media in the context of wine is to be admired. The quality of his links to other sites means he always uncovers some golden nugget on the web that would otherwise be missed

So I’ll use Robert’s list to broaden my reading although I sense I’ll continue to use the above links for the majority of my forays into the web.

The picture by the way is of Chateau Ausone right on the edge of the town of St Emilion taken on a trip there in June.

Light reading, heavy drinking

If you are off on your summer holidays and wish some light reading for the journey or beach, you could do worse than buy Paul Torday's The irresistible inheritance of Wilberforce.

It's about a man who is a passionate wine drinker and gets through 4 to 5 bottles of Bordeaux, having inherited a huge cellar from a friend. It's full of references to Petrus, Pomerol, Palmer and other illustrious Bordeaux names.

I've only read about 70 pages so far but I'm keen to see what happens. His health from drinking so much has obviously suffered but as with most alcoholics he is in denial. And it's this denial which brings a dark humour to the book. That, and the book starting with him in this alcoholic state, is making me read on to find out how he got to this state.

Light reading but still wine related.

Where next for Grapefan's wine adventures

The blog has been quiet - too quiet - of late. I have been indulging my passion though;

* tasting 4 or 5 bottles a week at home
* following my favourite blogs
* reading Decanter's September issue with the California supplement
* keeping in touch with like minded people and comparing notes

However I feel there's something missing now the Diploma studies have stopped and I need a new project. But I can't decide what it should be.

I've thought about Master of Wine and decided if I was in my 30's rather than my 50's I'd do it. It's quite an expense and commitment for someone not involved full time in the trade or wanting/needing a new career.

There is always the final level 5 Diploma stage. Maybe I'll look into this but the idea of lots of depth in one subject isn't that appealling.

I've also thought about teaching, maybe local adult education. Being a freelance management consultant I'm quite happy in front of groups of people and in a perverse way quite enjoy it. I suspect this is a very limited opportunity with lots of competition but councils cutting back their provision for budgetary reasons.

I could always go back to occasional work in a wine shop and I'll certainly keep helping out at trade events, reading, attending trade tastings and judging.

I need something to get my teeth into for my own vinous pleasure however and to give this blog a sense of purpose. It is called Grapefan's wine adventures for a reason. There are many random blogs out there and I'd rather mine wasn't just one of them.

Mmm - food for thought.

PS the picture of the cellars of Chateau Franc Mayne is taken from a recent trip to St Emilion