2014
Soldier of Love
25 Feb2014
This post comes to you a little later than normal but from the comfort of my bed as I try to recover from a bout of pharyngitis.
It is called Soldier of Love. Relax. While this post may not be about wine, it is certainly not a love story either.
Chortle & Chuckle
17 Dec2013
In the spirit of the silly season I have decided to share a few tidbits that should make you chuckle or chortle for the next minute. These pieces come to me thanks to a mad Jewish man named Dean who supplies my partner with exciting vintage leather goods, shares crazy stories and has taught me some hilarious Jewish jargon.
Wine Reviews December
3 Dec2013
It is high time that I started channelling my inner Julie Andrews with a few of my favourite things discovered in the last twelve months.
Raindrops on roses and Macedon Chardonnay
Bright copper kettles and Lagrein on a bogged day
Dirty Three Pinot with pure fruit that sings
These are a few of my favourite things
The Seekers – A World Of Our Own
19 Nov2013
My partner and I are on the lookout for a place to call our own. Only in the last few months have we commenced this pursuit of happiness and find ourselves trawling through one real estate ad after another in the evenings. We seem to be spending most of our weekends driving around various towns and getting an idea of an area, which is an exhausting process when it happens week after week, but satisfying nonetheless as we begin to narrow down the places we would be happy to settle down. We are the seekers and our journey thus far has not been in vain. Sure, we don’t actually own anything yet, but there have been a couple of close calls where we have been in the final bidding and just missed out. The icing on the cake has to go to the property where we had to revoke our offer after finding out some structures on a property were illegally installed and not approved by council. Oh the joy. With each loss though there is more learning and understanding of the process, more familiarity with an area and more wisdom in dealing with the agents we come across. I have come to realise how much easier the process can be when you have a pleasant, down-to-earth real estate agent by your side. This is not always the case, as we found out during our very first bidding experience, with a chap who turned out to be quite the dodgy operator. You live and learn.
Seeing as property seems to be what consumes a lot of our time these days, I thought it only best to post some of the great real estate ads on Google these days to lighten the mood.
Don’t forget to listen to The Seekers clip at the end.
AWOL on the Classics
22 Oct2013
It happens about once a week. My partner and I will be sitting amongst family or friends laughing away when it comes about in conversation that I have yet to see a particular film. My partner looks over at me, lets out a frustrated ‘gyah’ and shakes his hands in the air. What I appear to have often missed out on is a classic or cult film. That’s not to say that I have had a misspent childhood. In fact, my siblings and I grew up watching old TV classics like Lost in Space alongside more recent pop culture hits like Seinfeld. Although combine that with my father’s interest in wrestling shows like WWF might help explain something. My interpretation of classic films must differ to my partners. I hold children’s films like ‘Labyrinth’ and ‘Ewoks Caravan of Courage’ in high esteem (the former due to my keen interest in David Bowie)…is that wrong? Suffice to say that there is a growing list of films that my partner wishes for me to see.
Dreamboat Bowie in Labyrinth
In the interest of keeping up with the Jones, I would like you, dear reader; to add on any suggestions I should add to the Classic Films That Krystina Has Yet To See list.
The Classic Films That Krystina Has Yet To See list
Good Morning Vietnam
Rainman
The Graduate
The Usual Suspects
The Matrix
The Power of One
Monty Python (in general)
Pulp Fiction
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Star Wars series
Bibemus honours the Tyrolese
24 Sep2013
The Tyrolese are a lovely and talented people who speak both German and Italian. However with the majority of the population being of Austro-Bavarian heritage, I believe you would hear more ‘Ja ja, das ist eine sehr gut wine‘ in your wine travels through the area. Recently Bibemus decided to pay homage to the wines of Trentino-Alto Adige on a chilly Melbourne evening in the warm confines of Bar Di Stasio. While the group did not dress up in Tyrolean costume, I did my best my playing ‘99 Luft Balloons‘ in the background and practicing my favourite Year 7 German phrase ‘Das ist meine hamburger’ and ‘Mein Leiblingsfach ist Deutsch‘ to the poor sod sitting next to me.
The Massa Effect
20 Aug2013
Some months ago I was in raptures during a meeting in Piemonte where I came face to face with a wine figure I admire greatly. He was softly spoken with gorgeous, blue-eyes. His name was Walter and he had me at ‘Ciao’.
Walter Massa of Vigneti Massa
Video
Back to the Past: 1910
23 Jul2013
Dear Melbournites,
For those in love with our ol’ Melbourne town and interested in a little history lesson, then stop, sit down and take a look at this little treasure: Video footage taken of Melbourne life in 1910.
These were the days when men and boys wore caps, trilbies, bowlers and boaters. Also noticeable are their fobs holding the pocket watches. Ladies wore large ostrich feathered hats and their dresses were full length. Flinders Street Station was busy as usual and Abbotsford Ale was the main brew in those days.
Happy watching.
Sourced from KrisofferPaulsen Tumblr
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
25 Jun2013
That’s me emulating David Bowie. ‘Changes’ was in Bowie’s 1971 album Hunky Dory.
I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They’re quite aware of what they’re going through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don’t tell them to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Where’s your shame
You’ve left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can’t trace time
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The latest news for La Donna del Vino is a change in workplace as of the new financial year.
The final page has turned on the enjoyable chapter entitled, “La Donna del Vino does Enoteca Sileno”. Here I have had my biggest lesson on Italian wine as I journeyed from working in the restaurant, to the retail store, to the created position of Wine Marketing Coordinator. Here I shared my love of vino with customers, sommeliers, restaurateurs, wine reps and the people at Enoteca. The seed that started out in 2010 yearning to learn more about Italian wine was truly nurtured. After all the great times, I probably could not thank Enoteca enough for all the opportunities and moments they have offered me.
So why on earth would I leave? As some of you may know, I am a believer of destino. As such, when I was approached with the opportunity to take on the new Wine Manager role at King & Godfree, I found it difficult to say no. This is an exciting project and I am really looking forward to being a part of a new family and culture. Full steam ahead!
This is where you will find me from now on.
Ci vediamo lì, amici.
The Italian Scrapbook
21 May2013
As a kid, teenager and adult travelling overseas, I used to always bring one lined notepad or blank scrapbook that my mother had gifted me. Together we kept travel diaries filled with sketches and writing. They acted as beautiful momentoes of where we went with various scribbles on my end (or artwork on my mother’s end) of random experiences like what colour the sky was in front of that historical castle, tickets of a show we went to, the business card of a restaurant we dined at, or even a sketch of the view at the top of a village. This way of doodling my experiences has stuck with me during most of my travels. It’s a way of capturing the moment with a personal touch. Naturally, in order to keep a travel diary like this you need to allocate time during the travels to be able to scrawl in the books. It isn’t always possible…
Exactly one month ago I returned from a three week escapade in Italy. Two-thirds of that journey were work-based as I found myself at the famous Vinitaly fair in Verona, with the nine days after that travelling with a colleague through five different Italian regions and visiting thirteen wine producers. Considering I was in bella Italia, I bet there are many who thought that I was spending my days doing this:
La Donna del Vino
"'Just living is not enough,' said the butterfly. 'One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.'" - Hans Christian Andersen
La Donna del Vino 