I can pretty much bet I could be on an airplane seated between an astronaut and a zookeeper, and yet the moment they found out what I do for a living. the conversation would turn to wine and never stray. At home, my wife (whos not in the industry) and I default to the topic often, engaging in constant discussion around what were sipping that night, reminiscing about wine-centric trips, or getting into any number of philosophical discussions of a particular regions merits, the pros and cons of biodynamics, or whatever rabbit hole a simple How was your day? can lead us down.
I was wondering if this would be the norm when both people in a relationship are wine professionals. Would wine-talk double or would there be a concerted effort to carve out time to not talk shop?
Michaela Morris is a sommelier, wine educator and co-owner of , a wine-consulting company. She and Neil Ingram, the charismatic co-owner and sommelier of Gastowns popular restaurant (Boneta.ca), have been together well over a decade and were the first I thought to ask about this.
Yes, wines pretty much all we drink and talk about, laughs Michaela, But its something that gives us both so much pleasure. When they arent uncorking a bottle at home, Michaelas more likely to go the cocktail route (I love the bitterness of a Negroni) whereas Neil is the one more apt to go the craft beer route, enjoying something nice and hoppy anything with an extra edge or quirk. Hes the same with wine, more tolerant than Michaela of wines that harbour brettanomyces, a genus strain of yeast (sexy, right?) that can occasionally give wine a complex, savoury edge.
I like wines that offer a little slap and tickle, Neil offers, though they do agree on the more nuanced classics of the globe. Wed touched on the current BC liquor boards promotion of the aromatic wines of Frances Alsace region, particularly the deliciousness of s honeyed and floral 2010 Gewürztraminer ($19.99) I actually pour that as textbook-Alsace when Im teaching wine classes, she says, Neil refers to wines like that as Helen Mirren wines, vivacious classics that only get better and more respected the longer theyre around!
Michaela and Neil often finish each others sentences and share laughter throughout conversations. Theyre both quite inspiring, Michaela offering solid advice, particularly when I started out freelancing, and Neil always insisting on giving me a surprise pour at Boneta of something that almost always becomes a new favourite (get him to do the same for you.)
Its easy to see how they would indeed talk wine all the time, wearing their mutual respect and admiration toward one another on their sleeves. Sundays, however, particularly early in the day, is when they break from the conversation. Its coffee, newspapers, and winding down after a long week for both of us, laughs Michaela, In fact I think Sunday mornings we hardly talk at all!
Luckily for wine-loving Vancouverites, that day of rest has them recharged and excited for another week to come.
TASTING NOTES: Theres a slew of well-priced winemaker dinners coming up at Salt Tasting Room over the next couple months. Grab 40 bucks and head to to pick a night with anyone from Naramatas Joie Farm to Argentinas Las Perdices.
Dont forget to follow me on Twitter for wine musings and other tidbits or drop by .
