First and foremost, I would like to thank all my new subscribers. My content output is not what it should be, so I appreciate the support. Bits & Bobs is one of my favorite pieces and I hope to start keeping up with it as a weekly article. Fingers crossed.
I started to run again about a year ago, something I love to do. I’m not preparing for a race, just trying to stay in shape. It feels good. Just a quick word to all those drivers out there that see a runner on the road. Most of you are awesome and give me a little berth when passing me (I always run on the side of the road where the drivers are coming at me). However, occasionally there is a driver that does not want to move over at all. Just a little tip… If I were to stumble at the right time, I could literally land on the road right in front of the car. Not a happy thought, but I think it when someone is driving that close to me on the side of the road. We all need to use the road, so please move over just a bit so the runner feels comfortable, it is greatly appreciated.
My wife and I are planning a trip to Sicily in September. Actually, Susie is doing most of the planning, my part involves lining up wineries to visit while we are there. We are both very excited as we do more research on the places we plan to visit while there. It’s so nice to be married to someone who has the same desire to travel to new places as I do. While we’re there, we will be celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary. As Susie would say…”Who knew.”
I am seriously considering going for my WSET certification. It stands for Wine & Spirits Education Trust. I believe I can start at a higher level like two or three. I also need to look into the CSW course (Certified Specialist of Wine). I don’t feel that certifications are necessary to prove one’s qualifications as a wine expert. For me, they would be a personal challenge that I would like to conquer. I’m very comfortable with what I do know and I believe my knowledge is more directed toward customer service than anything else. I work hard at understanding what people like in wine and try to match their preferences to a bottle that they will enjoy. I find that very satisfying and I’ve built strong relationships with customers who come to me for advice about wine.
Speaking of advice on wine, I’ve been quite productive on my YouTube channel. I recently discovered a winery that metaphorically is in my backyard. The owner and winemaker for Orcas Wine Co. stopped by the store and left some bottles for Scott and me to try. We were both very impressed with both the whites and reds. I told Scott after we were done tasting, that I needed to take them home and record two episodes. One featuring the reds and one the whites. Those are out there, so please check them out. I also did a blind tasting with my friend Mike who owns Mike’s Cafe and Wine Bar. He has a great palate and it’s always fun to banter with him. I am working on an episode featuring low-calorie wines, it will be interesting to see how they taste. My experience with these types of wines has not been good to date. The episode will feature wines I have not tried yet in this low-calorie category. I look forward to getting it out there.
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
