...BUT also, more importantly, it gave me another opportunity to make new wine friends from around the world.For instance, Count John Umberto Salvi, an Englishman MW of 1970 vintage, living in Bordeaux for almost 35 years is more colourful than all the shades of red and white wines and is more effervescent than all the bubblies I went through. He is a new friend...

...Van Zyl Cathy, another Master of Wine is the 251st member who joined the elite group last year. A little dip into statistics with John being about the 25th member 35 years her senior, would indicate an annual average addition of seven to the august fraternity. And this, as John indicated has been accelerated since the Council decided to add members from outside Britain about 20 years ago. She is a new friend from South Africa.

...Kate Hardy, belongs to the famous Hardy family of Australia but came here as an enologist commissioner from France, representing the Organisation Internationale De La Vigne et Du Win, O.I.V., a U.N type of Association of wine producing and consuming countries based in Paris.It may soon have India as a member if the indications given by the Ministries off Agriculture and Food Processing Industries are to be believed.

... Franco Giacosa, an enologist from Piemonte worked for 20 years  with the well known wine producer of Duca de Salaparuta of Sicily. Since 1997, he has been the Technical Director of the powerful industrial empire of Zonin, helping to change their image of a quality wine producing company. Many -Three Glasses- from Gambero Rosso, earned by the company for their wines  are testimonial to the seriousness of the Zonin family and Franco's dedication and capabilities. He took time out from managing the 1800 hectares owned by the company to take part in the competition which he values a lot. He became another addition to the several newly formed friends. Of course, there were a couple of them whom I knew from previous occasions and the Competition helped to seal the friendship further.

I have enjoyed making new friends over the years on such occasions. Some times I am told that wine people can get very unfriendly, if no business is done with them. Maybe! 

But my dream run continues....

Subhash Arora
di Verona
April 2, 2006