Today... I Blog

It has been my habit to use this space to hold out pieces of wine-writing... occasionally in complete form, more often in the midst of revision, extension and rewriting. I have, perhaps, absconded the opportunity offered by blogger.com to publish something other than what has come to be defined as “a blog”.
(Honestly, this doesn’t trouble me in the least... but I have occasionally cursed the format’s penchant for publishing “posts” in reverse order – or in my case, multi-part essays are published upside down.)
Bloggers, it seems, tell you what happened during their day. They gibber about what has delighted, and jabber about what has annoyed.
Well... today I blog.

I’ve been busy promoting a guided winetasting evening which I’m hosting next month. (see kwtastings.com)
This afternoon, I ran into an irritating snag (it is, I keep telling myself also amusingly bizarre).
My aim was to have this winetasting listed in the local newspaper’s “Calendar of Events”. I learned that they sort their listings into two subgroups: Community Events (which must be non-profit, or a charity benefit), and Entertainment Events. The employee at the other end of the phone told me that a winetasting does not qualify as “entertainment” and is, therefore, not eligible to be listed at all.
What followed was not a moment of great articulate grace. Thankfully I wasn’t rude either (I don’t think)..
Off the phone, I did follow up with an email in which I was able to gather up some of the thoughts. We’ll see where it goes from there.

Today is my day off.
Over my “weekend” (I work Saturdays and Sundays, so my weekend is midweek), I’ve been enjoying a bottle of Argentine Malbec.
Yesterday’s note read:
Bodegas Cavas Weinert. Malbec (99).
Strong, oxblood ruby colour (very slightly ruddy). Big nose of tart red berries... with some earthy spice. Palate is surprisingly elegant and restrained for a Malbec. Modest fruit, medium bodied. Very dry and oaky. Long clove-spice finish. Very Nice.
Today I’d add that time has improved this wine. Plump red-plum has developed... about equal to the oak which yesterday was dominant. Very Nice+

Today I also tried to book tickets to a “tutoured” winetasting in Toronto. Despite being six weeks away, it was sold out. So were the 3-4 other tastings which I also checked on.
Other than my own bad fortune, this is terrific.
Lots and lots of people are interested in learning more about wine. Lots of those people choose to learn by attending guided/tutoured winetastings (not to mention the entertainment value of such an event... see above).
What has me irked?
(1)The LCBO recently opened a new enormous store in uptown Waterloo. It is apparently their 3rd largest (after the flagship stores in Toronto and Ottawa). They did not include a classroom for tutored tastings.
(2)Remember the guided winetasting which I am planning to host? Of course, it requires a permit from the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario). Since my event will not have alcohol for sale (guests can not buy a glass or bottle of wine), I applied for a “No Sale permit” ($25). But (the AGCO says), your guests are paying to attend and are, therefore, indirectly paying for the alcohol to be consumed. Now I find myself paying for a “Sale permit” $75.
That seems like an outrageous amount of money.
The tasting is taking place in a facility which already pays for a liquor licence. The special permit is only required because I want to bring in my own choice of wines.
Maybe I should run a bar instead. I would require the exact same permit.

Fergusson (woof) is happily chewing a rawhide bone.

Today’s website of the day is http://geostationarybananaovertexas.com/

Today’s brief, amusing but pointless, diversion is “My Pug Immitates the Blender” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9l19D2sIHI

And now....
I’m going to shut up.