Taking a moment to compose myself, I made my way to a beguiling Italian Rosé twinkling under the lights (Lunae Mea Rosa Golfo dei Poeti IGT 2011 by Lunae Bosoni Winery). Ignoring, for a moment, professional wine taster rule #1 (always spit and dump), I walked with my rosé while getting my bearings.

Having quickly given up on juggling the floor plan, wine glass, and tasting notebook, I had no idea how the wineries were organized and just made my way toward a few familiar French names. Serendipitously, I’d placed myself in the heart of Old World wines and a very enjoyable evening studying the classics.

In under three minutes, I was meeting new people and enjoying friendly conversation. It was easy once I got started. Afterall, most of the wine people I know are passionate about learning and sharing. I especially enjoyed my conversations with vendors who were enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and unpretentious.

Bob Trimble, The Wine Guy, represented Louis Latour and introduced me to my first Grand Cru in a vertical tasting of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Barbara Eden of Luxe Vintages sampled a variety of artisanal wines that can be found at Garces Trading Company, including an aromatic Sancerre that would be perfect with soft shell crab.

Gail Nyvelt of the Wine Merchant provided my first taste of a wine recommended years ago, E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2006.

Not only did the representatives share wonderful wines, but they also offered insight into opportunities for me as a designer, social media consultant, and brand representative in the wine world.

Bob Trimble, The Wine Guy representing Louis Latour at Philadelphia Wine Festival 2012. Photo by PAWineSpirits

Overall, it was an excellent first wine festival. I enjoyed some of the best wine I’ve ever tasted, expanded my palate, met passionate wine people, and made professional connections. I didn’t taste the food (there was a whole dessert lounge!) or as many wines as I will next time, but I met new people and took my wine education to a new level, which is exactly why I was there.

Did you attend the festival? What wines do you recommend?

Luxe Vintages imports sampled at Philadelphia Wine Festival 2012. I liked them all, but I was particularly smitten with the Sancerre. What a gorgeous nose!

Today, I finished the day job on a very happy note. My replacements (yes, it took 2!) are lovely and ready to run the show. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to tell most of our regular patients at the chiropractic office that I would be leaving and to share my exciting new plans during the past month.

Most wanted to stay in touch, made sure we exchanged contact details, asked me to keep them posted, invited me to meet for lunch, and insisted that this is not goodbye, just “see you later”. I left with lots of hugs, congratulations, well wishes, love, and everyone very confident in my future. Several wished me luck and then immediately added that I don’t actually need luck; that I’ll be amazing in anything I do.

From the beginning, it was inevitable that I would eventually outgrow the day job and need to focus afresh on my professional goals. However, it was a wonderful fit for a long time. I loved the people and the impact I had on both the business and people’s lives. I practically bounced into the office each morning, excited for the day ahead. But, in the end, I’d also experienced the growing pains of leaving the nest for a few months, and it was time to move on.

As I left today, walking in the brilliant summery sunshine on an unseasonably warm spring day, I was moved by the realization that by taking my next steps, I was also allowing two wonderful women to take theirs. How lucky I was to find that space when I did, and now it’s their turn.

What’s Next?

Chasing what’s next is another project, but now there is more time and space for that focus. Assuming everything comes together in a timely fashion, all will truly be well.

I’ve been talking to people in my network and searching for new opportunities in design and social media. Working directly with people at the day job has been delightful, and I want more of that in my tech career. I have enjoyed touching so many lives and want to continue engaging with people online and off.

Being able to be transparent with our patient community during this process has been wonderful. I’ve been free to have open, passionate conversations about my future and received such an outpouring of love and enthusiasm from everyone.

As I move on, I will also return to this community in new ways. Next week, I’ll cover a shift for one of my replacements. I’ll also keep getting adjusted while I make changes in my life. And I’ll keep seeing the wonderful people I’ve grown to love in my time there.

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. While my future details are in flux (and the task list is quite astounding), I am on to exciting new adventures!

I hope all is well in your world! Thanks for being part of mine.

My advance preparations, as well as the mentoring I did before the conference, served me well in the inevitable chaos and serendipity that is SXSW. I met wonderful people, made important connections, articulated my professional direction, and accomplished many of my goals while helping others reach theirs.

I felt profoundly inspired, energized, and grateful. I did so much, and yet there was still so much more to do. I met and reunited with so many people, and yet there were still so many more I would have liked to have seen. It’s truly astounding to realize just how much happened at SXSW as I write my recaps, plan followup, and make notes for next year.

The panels I selected provided inspiration and new ideas to explore, while gathering people with similar interests and facilitating networking. To delve deeper into specific topics, I attend meetups and other conferences throughout the year. At SXSW, the content creates starting points for human connections with others in our vast and diverse industry.

This weekend, I have been in withdrawal, missing the people, social activities, geek conversations, hotel housekeeping(!), and even the ease of sponsored food and drink. (I’d thought I’d miss my kitchen, but I found some really great meals in Austin!)

Being present and surviving a week of SXSW was the easy part. Figuring out how to harness all of that amazingness and integrate it into everyday life is another challenge, but one I eagerly embrace as I map out the year ahead.

How was your SXSW? How do you plan to continue bringing SXSW into your daily life?

CNN Grill VIP event.

Hung out with Adria Richards, Dionne Fox, Michael O’Donnell, Mary Pryor, Dennis Yang, Ryan Lawler, Charlie Springer, Rolf Rando, Elliot Oshman, Cathy Brooks, Scott Beale, Dennis Crowley, & more.

Ran into old friends, met new friends, enjoyed excellent conversation, amazing customer service, great food, and a wonderful shelter from torrential rain. I’m off to the next event so I’ll keep this brief, but I’m loving every minute of SXSW so far… as always!

Xīn nián kuài lè! Gōng xǐ fā cái! 新年快樂! 恭喜發財!

The Year of the Rabbit was a year of organizing, prioritizing, starting, completing, connecting, designing, gardening, cooking, sharing, and much more. I chose “Thrive” as my 2011 Themeword, and thrive I did.

Instead of blogging, I engaged in conversations on Twitter, Facebook, and especially face-to-face.

I observed trends, frequent questions, areas of expertise, and passions. I reviewed and recommended dozens of places and products. I attended educational events and shared advice on design, technology, social media, WordPress, getting organized, gardening, cooking, wine, and British entertainment. I resumed photography and collected topics for further exploration. In short, I spent the Year of the Rabbit immersing myself in life.

As the Year of the Dragon rolls in, I look forward to sharing some of those observations here and on official review sites, beyond the fleeting moments of Twitter and the walled garden of Facebook.

A huge thank you to those who have participated in these discussions and welcome to those who will join us this year. May you all enjoy a very healthy, joyful, peaceful, and prosperous Lunar New Year!

新年快樂! 恭喜發財!
Xīn nián kuài lè! Gōng xǐ fā cái!

As we embark upon the Year of the Rabbit tonight, I wish you a healthy, joyful, peaceful, and prosperous new year.

Xīn nián kuài lè! Gōng xǐ fā cái!
新年快樂! 恭喜發財!

Supposedly, decent table wines are now being produced and boxed all over the world. The technology and wineries willing to brave the box have improved. European and Australian consumers drink table wine from boxes or refilled plastic jugs, but does the US sell anything worth drinking?

That is what we aim to find out this evening with an impromptu box wine tasting. Check out the hashtag #boxwine on Twitter and feel free to join in!

Why box wine?

Benefits cited include:

• Ecology
• Longevity
• Economy
• Portability

But, it really doesn’t matter how great the price, how convenient the product, or that 3L of wine is expected to stay fresh for 4-6 weeks if you want to dump it as soon as you open it!

I love the idea of wine on tap, a single refreshing glass without having to be concerned about finishing the bottle before it oxidizes. I love the portability and many other aspects of the packaging design. I love the price point. But I have questions, too.

There is certainly a case to be made for the ecological benefits of bag-in-box packaging, but I still wonder about the ecological impact and health hazards of drinking wine out of plastic bags. Every choice has trade offs.

I would like to see the glass bottle reuse industry grow, because glass is a highly reusable material that allows wine to retain its quality without leaching harmful chemicals into the product. Unlike plastic, glass is not manufactured from fossil fuels. Reuse saves far more energy than recycling, particularly in the case of glass. Wine Bottle Renew, a new Napa startup, expects to reduce the carbon footprint of wineries by 95% and lower their water use by 25% by sterilizing and reusing wine bottles. I hope they do!

Theoretically, the bag-in-box packaging (sealed spout vs. open bottle) also reduces oxidation, which would make it possible to enjoy a single glass of wine without reducing the quality of the remaining wine. However, as studies show and Joshua Sweeney points out in his extensive boxed wine search, the oxygen-permeable nature of the plastic bag itself impacts the quality and longevity of box wine.

Box wines are also generally less expensive than their glass counterparts, with 3L (4 bottles) averaging about $4-5 per bottle. That’s a great bargain, but it’s only a deal if it’s worth drinking 4 bottles of the stuff.

There seems to be a lot of confusion about the packaging, confusion that goes well beyond the basic question of quality. No wonder the thought of box wine makes us skeptical!

I commend my fellow wine lovers, including Carl Sorvino, John DiMuccio, and anyone else who is game for this adventure. My research and tasting was inspired by a tweet from Tamara Belgard last weekend and it’s been an educational journey so far!

Tonight, we will be sampling various wines that come in boxes. Other questions aside, our focus is simple: Do we like the wine?

What am I tasting?

I love Sauvignon Blanc, particularly from Marlborough NZ, so that’s where I’m starting my exploration of box wine. Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc 2009 box wine rated well in posts I found by Joe Suzadail, Joshua Sweeney, and their commenters. Supposedly, this wine is true to the region’s characteristics and I am truly excited by the idea of having a good Sauvignon Blanc on tap in the fridge.

What’s in your glass?

Photo courtesy of Octavin Home Wine Bar.

I’m not a Chardonnay fan, but I’m excited about this tasting because a fellow Sauvignon Blanc/Pinot Noir lover helped me select a budget-friendly Chardonnay I might like, and from a winery that impressed me recently with their Reserve Syrah.

Tomorrow, I’ll be tasting Columbia Crest’s Two Vines Chardonnay 2007, most likely paired with pasta and a mushroom cream sauce. That’s a pretty standard pairing for Chardonnay, but I also love pairing mushrooms and white wine, so I hope it gives the Chardonnay a chance!

The Winemaker’s Tasting Notes sure sound promising:

“This Chardonnay offers fruit-forward apple aromas with hints of spice and honey. Rich flavors reminiscent of apple pie and cinnamon end with a pleasant note of toasted marshmallow. Vibrant Washington fruit characters, with fresh acidity marry beautifully with toasty oak nuances.”

– Ray Einberger, Winemaker

What are you tasting and how are you pairing? Do you have a favorite Chardonnay? What other wines do you love?

Leave a comment and please do say hi on twitter during the tasting!

Photo and tasting notes courtesy of Columbia Crest. Read more about how this wine was made.

Would-you-like-a-cup-of-tea?

Obviously, over here we’d have a cup of tea… the answer to everything!

Wise words from a friend in England last week while I had to wait. For huge design files to transfer. For software to run. For technology to work its magic, while not knowing whether or not the solution would work.

I wanted to use the waiting time productively and I was growing impatient.

So, I took his advice. I waited out the 40 minutes of file transferring and software processing away from the computer. I brewed a pot of tea, cleaned the kitchen, and listened to Eat Pray Love on audiobook.

And guess what? He was right. I was more calm and focused. I’d still been productive, too, but in a much needed physically active, get-away-from-the-computer way. In a fill-my-mind-with-something-inspirational way.

Take a break. Have a cup of tea. Embrace the waiting time, the uncertainty, as a moment to recharge, so that you’re clear and ready when the next task arises.

That advice is still making me smile days later, popping into my head while I wait for decisions and files so I can finish another design. The kitchen and laundry are clean.

Geeky footnote: The latest episode of Dr Who (just days after this advice) has a bit about tea, so read the photo caption like a Dalek!