Disqus - Latest Comments for thirstforwine

Re: How people read

thirstforwine — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 06:58:04 -0000

just proving that some of us DO read ;)

Re: How people read

thirstforwine — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 06:46:18 -0000

Minor issue, but reading this page I noticed that it should be Nielsen not Nielson Norman - will help with Discoverability

Re: Tim Atkin MW | Articles | Almost human?

thirstforwine — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 06:09:02 -0000

Interesting thoughts Tim. I was asked to consider something similar for a presentation recently, and one of the other key elements to consider is that the link between the producer and consumer would also be radically altered by AI. It is not just tasting notes that could be auto-generated, but the fact that we may no longer need tasting notes at all. If the producer-AI can categorise, analyse and package a specific wine according to taste profile, background story, social profile etc, it can also match these to consumers' own AI agents who can 'order' the wine that will most suit the individual at any given moment (matching the right style and profile of wine, with the 'right kind of story that can be read during the meal', to the ingredients for tonight's meal being delivered by the dinner service) then there is no need for notes, articles, reviews or profiles at all. Then you can make all the fine wine you want by hand, but if you are not with the programme, you may have fewer customers, and no-one left to put the two sides together.

Re: feeling listless -- "Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable."

thirstforwine — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 08:45:28 -0000

We all do that regularly, do we not? I think I have 3 or 4 zombie (undead) blogs already.

Re: Appletree Stables and Riding School, Horse Riding School in Cranbrook, Kent

thirstforwine — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 12:02:36 -0000

please update this record - you are listing a private number as a contact number and the lady in question is rather upset and it is very embarrassing for me too

Re: Well Com :: How to create great
wine content in 4 steps

thirstforwine — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 11:57:35 -0000

Jeremy - you ARE and WERE invited ... you even came to our event in 2011 in Franciacorta / Brescia and you would be welcomed back with open arms.

Francesco - As for the EU perspective, that is sort of the point in that we try to give an 'international' perspective to balance the otherwise rather US-centric English-language content online, but because of the language issue we still naturally have more UK speakers. We'd gladly have more Italians and French (and others) on stage if they were willing to talk but because of the nature of the conference it would have to be presented in English as a 'common' language, and we find people who speak perfectly good English are sadly resistant to that. If you have something to pitch, do please let me know (anche in Italiano de vuoi)

Re: Awards Categories & Prizes

thirstforwine — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 10:31:19 -0000

Andrew, as you know, we used to have a Photo Essay category so we have a clear idea of what we would LOVE to be able to do about this, but there was a LOT of work to do to get these awards back up and running in a short space of time this year, and we felt we couldn't do all categories justice, so for 2015 we were unable to include it. It is our intention, if at all possible, to bring back a category that will allow photography to be included, either in the previous format, or maybe in some other way. Please trust us that we are not forgetting or ignoring anyone, we simply had to focus our efforts.

Re: Tim Atkin MW | Articles | A letter from the Publisher of Le Pan Magazine

thirstforwine — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 13:20:26 -0000

Ah, wine culture! Good to see it going down Le Pan

Re: The Great Prosecco Crisis of 2015

thirstforwine — Wed, 27 May 2015 11:38:35 -0000

Ah, but is it now the 'Era of the Glera'?

Will those previously excommunicated vineyards be brought back into the arms of the family now that they need their production? ;)

Re: Farewell until after the Exams

thirstforwine — Thu, 14 May 2015 09:58:37 -0000

All the very best (even if DW MW is going to be a bit of a mouthful at the end of it)! :)

Re: Going Dry, With Water #H2Only

thirstforwine — Tue, 12 May 2015 09:57:09 -0000

Thanks Arnold. I'm mainly doing this for the charity, and the fact that for ONCE, it is a challenge that I can physically do (no running for my knees!) and will hopefully be the start of exactly what you say, a healthier life in more aspects - better eating and more exercise (having cleared my head, literally and figuratively, of some of my bad habits holding me back). I eat pretty healthily thanks to gluten issues at home, but am hoping to cut the sugar + caffeine vs alcohol self-medication of daily uppers/downers. Will probably still be a grumpy b*st*rd for 10 days though. Thanks for your moral support

Re: Google’s new Classroom app opens its doors on Android and iOS

thirstforwine — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 03:42:45 -0000

All great ... but when will Google make accounts properly available to the main users of these apps, the kids? If the child is under 13 they aren't supposed to have Google accounts and therefore no access to Docs, Email, etc.

Re: Naked Wines’ Latest Marketing Campaign a bit See-Through? | Wine Conversation

thirstforwine — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 19:04:01 -0000

choir?

hard to picture little ol' me vs a whole choir of angry angels trying to drag me over hot coals, but I shall meditate on the image

Re: On Englishness, Scottishness and Britishness

thirstforwine — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 09:56:13 -0000

I agree - and the main reason that I justify the NO result as most likely and appropriate. Something this big needs more than 50.1% buy-in to work.

Also, I missed commenting on the last-minute offer (what better evidence required that the Westminster Government didn't take the debate seriously) of greater devolution, and its implications for the rest of the UK.

I think this could be a good alternative result. Honest devolution of authority and responsibility to regions, and away from London. I like the solution that post such devolution we might rename this the WISE Union.

Re: On Englishness, Scottishness and Britishness

thirstforwine — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 09:49:07 -0000

Very interesting. I have a similar dilemma, but from the almost opposite point of view. My parents are Scottish, although my mother grew up around London but moved back for University in Edinburgh where she met my father.. However, I was born in London, and lived from the age of 2-16 outside the country in places like Italy, Mexico and the USA.

I, on the other hands, have ALWAYS felt Scottish. It was my identity wherever I was in the world. British was an extra, European was a catch-all. But if you asked me, I was Scottish. I went back to Edinburgh almost every summer to see my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

My parents were both Chair of the St Andrews Society (for Scots living abroad) and my mother taught Scottish country dancing wherever we were.

I didn't live in Scotland until I was 18 and I chose St. Andrews University at least in part so I could live in Scotland.

I married in a kilt. I wear it proudly whenever I can.

Yet, I too have no vote, and I too am torn. Most of my extended family are firm NO-camp supporters, and I can see why.

I am a bit of a romantic (that's Scottish too), and I can't help feeling that Scotland needs the release, the radical shock to the system to reinvigorate the identity and energy of a nation. I fear, on the other hand, that the practicality of implementing it will kill the idealism and leave us without a modern, energetic government and positive energy, and instead leave us bruised and depressed.

I too am torn, but would ultimately have gone for YES if only to say that we have to try, and use this opportunity to show what CAN be done if we start something new, with the wisdom of experience but free from the baggage of hundreds of years of political bargaining.

But I'm fairly certain that your view will likely prevail, and leave 45-49% of the Scottish people who live in Scotland, and many more who do not, rather depressed.

Re: On small rebellions and small school ties

thirstforwine — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 08:55:55 -0000

absolutely! Christian stories are important to our culture, and I want the kids to understand them, naturally, but also to put them in their proper context. I'm not at all convinced about the state subsidising religious education however (but that is quite another story). I'm quite certain my kids will do what all kids, including myself, do as they grow up. Hopefully, however, by equipping them with an active sense of taste and smell I can encourage them not to linger too long over the really cheap stuff, and to find more rewarding ways to explore. Being "the wine guy" at University (however lacking in actual skills that I was) had its benefits, I can tell you

Re: On small rebellions and small school ties

thirstforwine — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 07:56:14 -0000

Thanks Reka - always interesting to consider parenting and alcohol (and religion I guess) from a producer's perspective. It comes down to responsibility - ours, and what we teach them to take for themselves. I get my kids to explore their sense of smell with wines, a sense far too few kids really get to play with. In fact, aged 7, my daughter was asked by her teacher, "Name something you are good at" ... he wasn't expecting "Sniffing wine", I can guarantee that ;)

Re: On small rebellions and small school ties

thirstforwine — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 07:36:43 -0000

Exactly! How best to rebel against an atheist upbringing than to join a religion? At least I'd have the consolation that it was a choice, I think. Of course the other reaction in society is for the rump of certain religions to become more extreme (witness the rise of Creationism), so my own hope is that it becomes less likely.

Re: How To Cure Garlic Breath? Take a guess

thirstforwine — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 08:05:00 -0000

Exactly - and the Continental Europeans have known this for ages, hence the evolution of their cuisine and wine matches :)

Re: On wine and music with Esporao

thirstforwine — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 12:58:44 -0000

Thanks Clark - sounds interesting. In fact I was talking about your book with David at the dinner as we were discussing "minerality" so this ties in neatly. Have a great time and let me know how it works out

Re: Friday Feature Photo: Silent Preparation for the “Regata de Barcos Rabelos”

thirstforwine — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 07:22:11 -0000

Beautiful

Re: What does a #PortWineGeek dream about?

thirstforwine — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 12:28:41 -0000

these are safe hands! ... plus I have ninja skills. I could probably drink it all before it hits the ground :) ... (in my dreams)

Re: The Return on Investment of Wine Education

thirstforwine — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 08:57:10 -0000

This specific issue was the subject of discussion with a lovely lady I met on Saturday at Tapas Fantasticas who was part-way into her WSET Level 2 and who said to me she was "stressed" and "making more mistakes", so thought I'd dust this off.

What are we doing if we are making people enjoy wine less as they learn more?

Re: What illiterate designer created this World Cup Wine design?

thirstforwine — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:28:51 -0000

I have found a link to the "official UK importer" but that site still says "Coming Soon" which, considering the World Cup is about to start, may be a little late in the day

http://southseawinemerchant...

Re: Krakow: Toastmaster's Spring District Competition | Gabriella Opaz

thirstforwine — Wed, 14 May 2014 06:25:26 -0000

best of luck! but most of all, have fun :)

Disqus - Latest Comments for thirstforwine

Re: How people read

Re: How people read

Re: Tim Atkin MW | Articles | Almost human?

Re: feeling listless -- "Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable."

Re: Appletree Stables and Riding School, Horse Riding School in Cranbrook, Kent

Re: Well Com :: How to create greatwine content in 4 steps

Re: Awards Categories & Prizes

Re: Tim Atkin MW | Articles | A letter from the Publisher of Le Pan Magazine

Re: The Great Prosecco Crisis of 2015

Re: Farewell until after the Exams

Re: Going Dry, With Water #H2Only

Re: Google’s new Classroom app opens its doors on Android and iOS

Re: Naked Wines’ Latest Marketing Campaign a bit See-Through? | Wine Conversation

Re: On Englishness, Scottishness and Britishness

Re: On Englishness, Scottishness and Britishness

Re: On small rebellions and small school ties

Re: On small rebellions and small school ties

Re: On small rebellions and small school ties

Re: How To Cure Garlic Breath? Take a guess

Re: On wine and music with Esporao

Re: Friday Feature Photo: Silent Preparation for the “Regata de Barcos Rabelos”

Re: What does a #PortWineGeek dream about?

Re: The Return on Investment of Wine Education

Re: What illiterate designer created this World Cup Wine design?

Re: Krakow: Toastmaster's Spring District Competition | Gabriella Opaz

Re: Well Com :: How to create great
wine content in 4 steps