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2011 Wine in Context: Your Turn

I'm delighted that this year as last year, Winedoctor readers have been sending their favourite wine in context moments of 2011, and the third set of submissions are published here.

If you aren't sure what Wine in Context is all about, think of it as your favourite wine-related moment of 2011, but where instead of focusing on an intrinsically great wine, we look at the synthesis of life and wine. So it's not about those magnums of 2000 Le Pin and 2001 Yquem you knocked back with last Saturday's burger and fries, it's more about that bottle of Touraine Sauvignon which just sang with your little pyramid of Valençay goat's cheese, as you lay stretched out on a blanket on the sandy banks of the Vienne, or perhaps the time you spent with good friends, old or new, over some special bottles. Maybe you made your own wine for the first time? Or maybe the wine was there to lubricate some great celebration? Whatever it is, it's about context, not just the wine.

Wine in Context submissions are really now closed, although I would be happy to consider last-minute submissions if you have any. Many thanks for reading, and special thanks to all those that submitted wine in context moments this year. And, with that thought, here is my third batch of 2011 submissions, in this case just two, but they are both very special I think; each one serves to illustrate just what an important role wine can play in our lives. (12/1/12)

Last year, on the age of 52 I got fired after working for almost 30 years for a company. With the blessing of my wife I took my motorbike and travelled to (and through) France. Sancerre, Chablis, Bourgogne, you name it. But, the best memory I have took place in Arromanche-les-Bains. There, overlooking the D-Day beach, hugging the sea breeze and warm sun, I had some fresh local oysters with a lovely simple light dry Muscadet sur lie. I tasted a little tingle on the tongue. Total harmony. Never felt better. I decided that I liked wine so much I had to make a living of out it. No more management but hard labour. I took lessons, got my basic papers and now I am so fortuned to work in a very big firm (Makro) as a wine salesman. I advise people, small supermarkets and restaurants. I want you to know that your site is an inspiration and great help. I will never get up to your league in the years that I have left but you make me feel I belong to a greater community.

Thanks for sharing this very special moment Jan, I'm honoured that Winedoctor seems to have played some small part in this life-changing decision of yours. All the best for continued success and fun in your new career - Chris.

My wine in context of the year has to be the 2010 Schloss Lieser Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese GK.

My wife, baby daughter (eight and a half months at the time) and I managed to squeeze a short trip to the Mosel in the midst of a trip to the UK to see relatives. At relatively short notice, I contacted Thomas Haag at Schloss Lieser about the chance of visiting and he responded that while they were quite busy, that they had a wine writer due at 6.00pm on the afternoon we arrived and would be delighted to open the wines that were earmarked for him to taste, for us at 4.00pm if we could make it. Thomas himself was busy repairing damage suffered during the terrible hail storm that battered the Mosel but came to welcome us to the estate before handing us over to his father Wilhelm. Wilhelm was a kind and friendly host with fantastic knowledge about the estate and the region and it was a delight to work our way ever upwards through the prädikat levels to the TBA. As we sampled the GK Auslese, Wilhelm took my daughter's hand and popped her finger into his glass before putting a droplet of this nectar into her mouth.

Even though she will never remember it, this first wine that my daughter had a miniscule taste of will always remain special to me, although starting with an Auslese Gold Kap Riesling is something that will take a bit of beating. The friendliness of the tasting, the stunning array of wines, my/our first visit to the Mosel and my daughter's first drop of wine make this a bottle that stands out for me.

Mark, what a delightful moment that must have been. I wish I had been there! In fact, many reading might even wish they were your daughter, just to share in a sip of that goldkapsel auslese! Thanks for sharing this - Chris.

Wine in Context moments don't have to concern only great or expensive wines to qualify, it's the context that I'm looking for! So send me your best wine moments of 2011, and I will post them online (I am assuming your consent for that!). Submissions for the 2011 report are really now closed, although I would be happy to consider last-minute submissions if you have any.