Dry Confessions

Tales of wine tasting

So I finally decided to accompany my husband on a wine tasting tour to Yarra valley in NSW in Australia. As we started looking at the adverts boasting of adventurous journey through the forests, mountain ranges and the vineyards of Victoria, it became all the more enticing for us to set on this remarkable journey we were expecting to experience.

We started our day early around 6.30 am in Oz winter, with our well suited attire that winter forces us. Wondering now that a long coat could do all the wonders, why worry about dressing appropriately for the weather. But really I didnt see Oz mate sporting the coat either. I saw many women wearing tights underneath summer dress with chic scarf. Guys would approve these women to be really hot.

Our tour guide didn't arrive until 8.30 am , so we decided to explore St. Paul's Cathedral opposite to Flinders Street Station. During my stay in Australia, I learnt that constructional plans for this 103 year old building got exchanged for magnificient Mumbai's Victoria Terminus in India.

After picking a few other companions and a 55 minute relaxing ride to unspoilt greenery, lushing vineyards and heavenly backdrop sightings, we reached at the first winery Domaine Chandon.
By this time I was completely convinced by amazing company we had on tour, that this was the favorite time of the day for booze. Yes, indeed, 10 a.m was just the best time to start my favorite activity.

After a detailed tour of the vineyard and cellar door with insight to how grapes are handpicked, fermentation units and yeast is removed from the wine bottles, our group of 8 people arrived at the wine tasting bar. With mostly locals and my Connosieur husband, I felt a bit inadequate in expertise in this widely known and enjoyed area.

Now here I was indulging in an expensive endeavor with no expertise; the next best move was to really learn the palate on my own by trying a different varietal each time.

 I was experiencing a hangover in my head for why would a non drinker land up here. Yes I did, and I didn't had enough courage to not raise up a toast, decline a sparkling glass of wine after a sophisticated tutored information about the wine, and was unprepared to face bewilderness of women my Grandma's age soaking in thoroughly.

After a thorough mastery of Pinot Noir, Chardonay, Shiraz , Tempurilina and more, I was more than prepared to taste these amazing wines. As everybody started enjoying the exquisite, expensive and immersing experience, I was on a lookout for my husband who seemed to enjoy the richness of the offerings and had completely forgotten the miseries of a married men. After he emptied his first glass of sparkling wine, I discreetly passed my lip touch glass in exchange of my husband's limpid goblet. Aah, what a relief for me I conquered as a practitioner in others' eyes and as a wine afficianado.
I kept checking on my daughter occasionally who was busy reading her new found love in Finding Dory, thanks to Ellen show for promoting it so well to pester me into buying one for her. I would say I wasn't amazed at seeing her unmoved indulgence but she made me quite comfortable at the tour by acknowledging my sole purpose for this one. " Go on mum, carry on with wine tasting. I am doing fine." I must admit I felt scandalous.

The elegant journey with a twirl in a glass followed by regurgitation in tract follwed by an ocassional spit in a spitoon and more often covert exchanges had just started. After tasting 8 different wines in the first winery, we paved our way to the next vineyard for more discernable experiences of fruity to earthy, pleasant to dry. Until now, I never knew of taste as a complex sense. The thought of visiting five to six wine tasting in each sessions and 4 more wineries to visit was making me dizzy and I had no clue how will I be able to sustain with my secret mission until then.

Although I didn't really much appreciate the taste of wine anticipated by the aromas, a hedonistic way of enjoying the wine to the fullest but I think this tour made me tad bit adept in gustatory delights. I am seriously thinking of taking up a strategic role as a wine sommelier in future crossing road with a firm crisp full bodied experience.

Walk with me

Dear Tanvi 

Your 6 th Birthday was special. Special in many ways.

One , because I couldn't give you enough of me on your last birthday and you missed me then. Yet you were always so kind and forgiving in your own special ways , comforting me as my mum taking me in her lap , sometimes as my dad holding me in his arms , your soft words cooing in my ears as if you knew What I yearned for. 

I am blessed to have an angel like you who can read my mind , walk through my heart and never leave in despair. You are my savior bringing a smile on my face with your unknowing thoughtful ways that touch my lost soul. Your love for me is divine and pure, you tell people how much you love snuggling with me, draw my picture in almost every piece of paper. I would have never known this definition of love, had I not been your mother. I feel fortunate for you being my daughter and teaching me ways of love and life. You have taught me patience, care, unconditional love and living with joy. I have yelled at you sometimes, you have forgiven me. I have scolded you sometimes and you have forgiven me yet again. I have not given enough time to you sometimes and again you have forgiven me. You have been my granny who has loved me, pampered me more than I ever pampered you. You have feared losing me and longed for me when I was away. You have fallen sick when we were apart even for a few hours and you have remembered me in your deep slumber. You made your first friend in me and you haven't let this friendship take a back seat. I owe you my everything. You have strolled in pink stilettos and adorn my bracelet to feel like me, look like me and be like me in every way you could possibly imagine. I behold a very deep and spectacular place in my heart and I want you to know how much I loved celebrating your special day this year. 

Second, this birthday you were as enthusiastic as ever before, and a much more than a bit more. We had a day of watching our little bee turning into a frantic shopaholic buzz. You took charge of what you wished to wear on your special day with details so intricate that would put any designer to shame. A pristine white evening gown with a dash of shimmer to give it that sparkly mesmerizing glow that could evade all the darkness in one wave of the magic wand. To complement to your incandescent love for life , you picked up glam sparkly charms to adorn your angelic feet and your beautiful long Rapunzel inspired tangled hair sweeping the gloominess in the air and unfurling the peace and joy of childhood. You have a desire to live and enjoy every moment in life and it is contagious. You smile brings a smile to us and your love brightens our heart. This was first time ever I had seen you so vivid for long five hours stomping from one shop to the other to get nonpareil boutique look. 

Lastly , it is your this special day that reminds of myself taking another role in life , Motherhood. It has been a great journey since then, with lows and highs, celebrations and losses, and has taught me more about my Parents. I have overlooked and undermine my mother's virtues and never acknowledged her support in making me a person I am today. You have made me agnize the parents' love is unconditional and unhindered. As parents we wish to see children get along without us and as children it seems the hardest task ever. You have taught me the gap in teaching and learning and why having roots before the wings is so important. You have made me strong as a parent but vulnerable as a child. You have given me a privilege that I am still learning to enjoy. Your laughter has infused in me love and respect for my parents as now I know why they always wanted to see me smiling. They have endured discomfort in life to give me pleasure and made me strong even if they had to go weak in their knees to teach that. I respect how my parents came home unemployed after my wedding to allow me to venture into the sky and set my eyes to create my new world, world you and your dad make. I can't tell in you in words how much love I feel for you as you grow up in my world and my heart only to take on to a different world a few years later. Let me celebrate growing as a mother with you until then and as I do that, owe my gratitude to my parents for having me as their reason to smile.  

Thanking God a zillion times for making me a part of you .

Dedicated to My Dad, Mum and My Daughter Tanvi