Yet another victim of the (S)Wine Flu...

I’ve been bitten by the flu literally.

And it’s not what you think.

This is a different flu altogether. So while for some people, it does have the characteristic symptoms associated with that rhyming named flu, namely – a dry mouth (manageable), upset stomach (uh oh), a heaving sensation (Ewww), a throbbing head (Sheesh), and general feeling of irritated sweatiness (Gawd), for more ‘seasoned’ people like TOOMA and me, it only leads to general languidness, and possibly an earlier sleep pattern than usual. The icing on the cake – this flu is not even contagious!

My romance with wines started a few years back. It all began with a curious sniff here, a swirl in an expensive stemware there, and an asparagus colored bottle of what I later came to know was Zinfandel somewhere in between. Sophistication was suddenly the most potent brew. And while I never did take to Zinfandel or the cheesy, overly-sweet Port wine, somewhere along the line, I was addicted to the other wines - hook, line and sinker. Of course, watching movies like ‘A Walk in the Clouds’ and ‘The Good Year’ helped – ensuring that I do the customary once a year routine sipping, hopping away from my otherwise that most preferred poison – O.M.

The romance grew with TOOMA. So much so that we followed it up with a workshop on wines. And I, a regular napper at most workshops, found myself awake – and actually listening, registering, hell – even taking down notes. So much for people who crib that I am the current chairperson of the Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) Club. High time they took a hike actually!

And maybe even churn out a few grunts!

The workshop was a success – barring a few minutes at the end (an area we shall not delve into). Three hours flew, and by the time we emerged from the white decored watering hole where the event was held, we knew our reds from the whites and the pinks, as well as all the other trappings like color, aroma, tannins, earthiness, zippiness, aging, pairing which wine with which food, swirling a full glass without spilling (bye bye clumsy, butter fingers), dryness or otherwise, and the best – the art of sniffing delicately without looking like a dog on heat!

We also came out with some favorites. In no particular order – Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti, Merlot (Red), Pinot Noir, Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the one which wins top honors – Chardonnay!

Which reminds me – Diwali! A bottle of unopened Chardonnay from Paris! You do the math….

I bet it’s gonna be worth the wait...