As a relatively recent arrival to the professional side of wine, I am in awe at the life I am currently living. I hope always retain this sense of wonderment, as experienced this past weekend.

Saturday night, after returning from a trip to South Africa to visit the winelands there, we had the pleasure of joining a noted winery owner for dinner. We had hoped to meet him when we visited his winery, but he was out at the time. Instead, noting that he would be in New York the following week, he invited us to dine with him and some other wine professionals. The meal was quite delicious and each course was accompanied by two-three wines, most of which were from his vineyard. One wine was from the vineyard of another dinner guest. Most of the wines were new to us, but as we enjoyed them very much, I am sure we will seek them out again. At the conclusion of the meal, we had the continued pleasure of our host’s company as we joined him for an additional bottle of wine at a second restaurant, as we walked in the direction of his hotel. This more intimate discussion centered on our own impending vineyard, with our new friend sharing his viticultural advice with us. An hour later, we deposited him safely at his hotel. We then hailed a cab for ourselves and floated home, giddy in the excitement of having been included in such a special evening.