This Is Why I'm in the Wine Biz

This was the best week ever!! VinExpo seriously needs to happen every week.  Tuesday-Thursday were full on 12 hour days of all things wine!  Day one and as Greg said, I "was like a kid in a candy store."  I wanted to try everything!  The boothes and sections were divided by country and I did my best to taste them all.  I would need at least another 2 weeks to make that true.

Friend Andrea from S&D wines (far right)

Tuesday I started in Germany and moved to Australia, a little US (which was cool because I recognized a ton of the wines from wine shelves back in NJ), and over to France.  Wow, in France I tried so many new wines that I LOVE.  I had been wanted to try Boujalais for some time, and I tried over 4!  The nuovo being my favorite even if it was a few months past its prime.   I also tried Burgundy reds and whites and learned that Cote de Rhone are definitely my favorites.  Love garnacha!  Oh and another surprise and new wine to me was Amarone.  It's apparently the best Italy offers (so how did I not know this!?) and the booth across from us had a WONDERFUL one.  Despite it's 15% booziness, it was still the most wonderful wine to end the first session at VinExpo.

Cali wines

Post festivities Sean and I made our way over to The Gateway in TST to join some lovely French winemakers for dinner.  You can read all about it here:  http://houseoffinewines.blogspot.hk/2012/05/vinexpo-day-1.html

Delish Vegetables at The Gateway

Day 2 and Greg and I caught up in the office and made it into VinExpo around 1.  I would help at the booth and after an hour or so Greg would look at me and say, 'What are you doing here?  Go on, go off." Yes sir!  I tasted some really nice wines from all over Greece then met Greg for a meeting with Tertias of Stellenrust wines (South Africa).  These were honestly some of my favorite of the whole weekend.  And I heard quite a few other people saying the same thing.  Their high end Chenin Blanc was amazing and stuck with me until the end of the last day when I went back for seconds.  The Pinotage (the main grape varietal SA is known for) were wonderfully fruity and well structured.  Again, went back for seconds here too.


Amazing South African Wines

I made my way back to France to try some Chateaneuf du Pape which are quickly becoming some of my favorite wines.  I've had some really nice ones that are so full of strawberry, yet light in body and complex.  And it's so fun to say!

7 pm we wrapped up and I met Paul for a Cote de Bordeaux tasting in Ava restaurant in TST.  The wines here were OK, all a little young, but at the end I ran into wine maker friends from dinner the previous night and they let us polish off a nice 2009 Merlot that blew all of the other wines out of the water.  Soooo smooth and velvety!

Dim Sum Bordeaux Wine Lunch

Day 3 9:30 start at the convention centre.  We set up for a very slow morning.  I guess everyone was nursing their hangovers.  Not HOFWs, we were there in full forces with Blanca from our Clearly Organic line.  She is so sweet and so nice to share her booth with us!!!I started with some Spanish wines (as it was the section we were in) and moved onto some Burgundy entry level wines which I think we will soon start selling!!  Yey new wines for Lauren :)  The Julia suggested I go try some Uruguayan wine of which I did not even knew existed.  They were shockingly different than any South American wine I had tried.  The woman explained that this was due to the different soil/altitude despite the proximity to Argentina.  Tannat which is a grape you see mostly in France is the main grape there and very different from the Carmenere and Cabernet Sauv you usually see down south.

Back to France where there was an entire circular bar set up for self service of some AWESOME Cote de Rhones.  Yum.  One of my favs was only 5 euro (ex works) and so full of strawberry.  I had a nice dim sum lunch with some Bordeaux wines and then it was back to the farm.

Oregon Wine Maker

Late in the afternoon I made my way over to Oregon.  I saw a wine that we drank for Christmas this year and everyone was very impressed that my mom was from Klamath Falls and had made it out!!  The wines were all amazing.  For those of you back in America get some Adelsheim! Delish although I think quite expensive.

Of course at the end of the day, as with every trade show, there was a horde of people trying to get their hands on some foie grs and truffles so it was all hands on deck.  Post show we rounded up all of our wines (I took 5 home) and sat and basked in the bounty that the fair granted us.

And then I went home and fell asleep at 9....

Can we please do this again next week!????

The Leftovers in France

So many contacts aand notes

Wonderful 80 year old Sherry from Spain

The horror! I still can't wrap my head around the waste!

NICOLE!!!

We had such an awesome visit with Nicole!  It felt like another day back in Haebongcheon.  We all kept saying how we can't believe it's been a year....almost to the day!

Nicole's from South Africa but has been in Korea since Sept 2009.  Same as me!  She and her boyfriend, Eric are leaving Kimchi ville this fall and the plan is to spend next year(s) in Guatemala, where Eric is from.  Then hopefully come here!!!!!  Everyone loves HK :)

Sicilian Wine Tasting At HVJC

Saturday we picked up Julia, the newest employee at HOFWs.  She's so sweet and we spent a really nice afternoon sipping Sicilian wines.  Then we met the rest of the crew for a lovely wine filled night in Central hanging out by the escalators.

Dim Sum Brunch

Sunday Funday!  Except someone (ahem me) had to work.  We all had a lovely dim sum brunch at Maxim's (so good!), then Paul played tour guide and showed Nicole and Julia around The Peak and TST while I slaved away at a tasting.

The Peak

My wine dinner went well and the food was good, which gives me a lot more confidence in my wine knowledge!  I can't wait to begin my course in June!!! Check out HOFWs blog for dinner review:  www.houseoffinewines.blogspot.com

As it always seems to happen, Monday rolled around again.  Nicole and I said a sad goodbye, but I have an idea it won't be too long before I see her again.  

Monday Paul and I went for oysters :)

Moving Moving Moving!!

Well if you haven't seen it on facebook already, I'll tell you now!  We're moving!!!! Yey!!! And into a big kid apartment.  NO rommates. NO buying furniture.  NO elevator...haha so maybe that's  not a selling point, but we LOVE this place and are so exicted to move in on June 11th.  I'll tell you more about it later.

I had such an amazing weekend with Nicole but I will also have to update this later, for now it's VINEXPO time!!!  Get excited!

Here's a sneak peak of Seaview:

Love the chandeliers!

Can open the entire wall onto our balcony

Built in closets!!!!!

Pull out couch and induction stove!!!

One Year

I knew it was about a year, but upon some quick referencing to 38th Parable, I have discovered Paul and I have been engaged one year and one day!!  Crazy the difference a year makes!  To celebrate we're meeting in Central after work for a romantic dinner at North Carolina Grill.  We're hoping for some good mac and cheese (me) and ribs (Paul).

Random note.  I'm off my smoothie kick and onto a breakfast salad kick.  Running egg on top of fresh greens with some mustard and avocado.   Beautiful start to the day.

Now I'm off to the American Club for their Summer Bazaar and then down to Stanley for some good old fashion door to door sales.  Wish me luck!

Mania

Today was totally busy.  In a good way, but definitely nonstop.  I did take a nice break to go to lunch with Patrick.  Remember Patrick?  He's my friend who knows a golf pro who knows John Daly and also happens to work right across the street.  We met with his office's property owner/friend for some dim sum.  I love going to dim sum.  And I especially love going to dim sum with Chinese people!  It makes me miss my days of going out with Ms. Han, never knowing what exactly would come out, but knowing it would be totally new and totally different.  Today we had a mix of the usual with some new to me items; shrimp dumplings, shrimp and pork fried rice, shu mai, spring rolls, shrimp eggy noodles (new!), and garlic broccoli.  Yummy.

Also of note today, Greg says he'll pay for my wine course!!!  Woohooo.  BUT only in December.  Rightly he doesn't want to put out the money, have me trained, and then see me bail.  So if I do my course and stay at least til year end, he'll pay.  Done deal my friend.

Now tis time for the season finale of Revenge!! Ahhhh can't wait!

JUNK JUNK JUNK

What's new this week:

I learned to count to 10 in Cantonese....finally

Went to the opening of ARTHK in Wan Chai

I found my intern an apartment in Causeway Bay.  Now I need to find one for myself

Went on my first junk of the season

Oh and one more, I'm legally working in Hong Kong!!!!!!

Last week was pretty standard with an art opening and fun night working at Fringe for good measure.  Friday evening Paul and I apartment shopped in the POURING down rain and finally found a nice place for Julia, HOFWs newest employee (I guess I shouldn't say intern as she'll be here for 6+ months.  Should I be nervous??), then got a lovely Indian curry dinner in Fortress Hill.  This is the first time either of us had spent any time in Fortress HIll and it's just lovely!!!  We'll definitely have to poke around here for apartments.

Then Saturday we JUNKED all day!!  The weather was clear in the AM, but relented to rain in the afternoon.  It don't matter.  Swimming, chatting, WINE, you know all the requisites for good times, were there.  The boat was amazing too.  After we boarded the wrong boat, we were directed to the correct boat.  Although smaller than the first, it was much better!  Full kitchen, big fridge, 2 bathrooms, 2 bedrooms, and of course large seating area on the main floor.  Robbie organized and arranged for his friend from Beirut (kebab restaurant in Central) to provide some delicious Lebanese food. I provided the wine, and Robbie the beer, so we were set.  Oh except as we arrived we realized there was space on a boat.  Quick call to Laura and Derek later and we were full!  Truly an awesome day with some awesome people.

After cruising in at sunset under a rainbow (HK you amaze me) Paul and I pulled ourselves together and raced up the hill to Kina's for a French feast.  For their collective birthdays, Nina's brother sent them a magnum of Champagne, and what can only be described as a magnum of duck confit.  Nina served amazing little goat cheese puffs with truffle oil (HOFW!), a very French frizze salad with a poached egg and bacon, and then the main of roast duck confit covered in a layer of mashed potatoes.  AMAZING. And too totally outdo herself, there was an apple tart served a la mode for dessert.   Nina, Kenny,  WONDERFUL dinner!  Again truly great people with out of this world food.

Sunday and there was no rest.  Paul and I got up early and hauled it over to Macau for a day of gambling, eating, and sweating.  We pulled in around 12, saw some of the sights, had homemade noodles and whole crab lunch, and gambled for a couple hours.  The result:  no dice on winning, but I am officially official!

Now it's Monday and back to work.  Another busy week with a saffie arriving Friday!!!

Post Swim = Dragon Death

Perhaps swimming for an hour was a bit much considering I haven't swam since the Philippines, and by swim I mean float in the ocean.  I made my way down to Stanley, enjoyed a lovely frozen yogurt (the trend caught on here too) and Ruth Riechl on the water, and come 2 pm Dboat was full on.  I don't know if it's because of the swimming, the lack of sleep, or the sinus infection I've been fighting off for a week, but practice killed me.  There were times when I just stopped paddling.  I couldn't do it.  And I'm no quitter, especially when most of the people there have 10+ years and 40+lbs. on me.

After boating Paul came and met me for a lovely Belgian beer at this awesome place Groucho's.  It's basically a hotdog/burger joint but it's right on the water and had a surprisingly awesome Belgian beer list.  Then we got back on the bus, showered changed, and buses back down to the island.  I am not going to miss living on the mainland my friends.  Island you are welcomed with open arms!!

We went to this dinner party in the Mid-Levels.  This guy is living in his parent's place while they travel the world (currently on safari in Africa).  Pretty sweet deal.  It was huuuuuuge and overlooked Victoria Harbour.  Dinner was all take out, but good nonetheless, and the helper....wait let me explain.  Almost 30 year old Llyon lives in his parent's house alone yet has a helper.  So I guess not alone, but you know what I mean.  I mean, I guess who else will make his bed?  ha.  Hong Kong is totally over the top with their helpers.  Everyone, I mean everyone has one.  Pays them shit.  Puts them up in closests.  They have absolutely no rights in Hong Kong.  In fact, the government just appealed a decsion that would have allowed helpers to get the same citizenship everyone else gets after 7 years.  But no, they aren't real people I suppose.  It's all very bizarre, but from what I hear the end goal for a helper (JeJe) is to end up with a Western family.  Apparently we're nicer in general than the Chinese.

Anyway, party was fun but we had to head out early becasue someone, me, had to work allllllllllllll day yesterday.  The event turned out to be a lot more fun than I thought it would be, but that also meant we didn't sell anything.  I sat and watched Capoeira for 12 hours straight and probably made 3 sales.  At least I didn't have to stand and there was wine.  Paul joined me after a 2 hour dragon boat practice (not sorry I missed that) and the rest of the evening was lovely.  Lionel came for a bit and we all just sat sipping wines rocking out to the music.  But 12 hours in a YWCA gymnasium is certainly not my idea of a fun Sunday.

Paul getting a glitter tat

Today the sun is back, obviously.  Isn't it funny how it has a way of hiding on my days off?   Tutoring 1 cancelled today, so just the twins, followed by Game of Thrones, Mad Men and bed.  Run, work, swim, tutor.  Then Wednesday things should get interesting....