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We had our attack plan for Divinum. We did most of the stands we wanted to try. In some cases, the reception was poor and we didn’t linger. In others, the wines weren’t as nice as we remembered them. But, in the end, we discovered and re-discovered some of our favourites. We ordered more this year than in previous years, but we still played it fairly safe. Dieci Cavalli and a really nice Valpolicella Ripasso from Enoteca Capponi, the S’escusu Salice Salentino Riserva (and a few jars of tuna-stuffed red peppers) from Elvira Caligara-Monsellato, and the Cornalin and Humagne Rouge from Varone – which every year until now, we really liked, didn’t buy, and sorta regretted it afterwards. Maye was there as well, but they didn’t have their full stock at hand to taste, so we’ll have to drive out there when the Valais has its open cave day.

Ben got a bit tired and grumpy when the food ran out partly through the afternoon, so we sent him home and finished what we wanted to taste. Katy, bless, discovered what happens when her Grogan instincts on not throwing away any sort of alcohol came into conflict with reworked internal plumbing and much less body weight to counteract the effect. In other words, she got right wasted, Lesta-style! I haven’t seen her that drunk in a loooong time. Sadly, or happily, I’m still debating it, I was only sipping and then throwing out most of my wine, so I was mostly still sober and was able to drag/prop her up on the way home.

Edit: I wanted to leave this here as a reminder for the next Caves Ouvertes:

Domaine du Beau-Soleil, in Mont-sur-Rolled.

I’m volunteering for Divinum again this year, working in general logistics one evening and glassware two evenings. The first night, Wednesday, was fairly quiet – emptying out spittoons and making sure the bins were emptied.

Tonight was seriously more animated. I must’ve gotten my 10,000 steps in tonight, picking up crates of dirty glasses and trying to get clean ones to exhibitors in an orderly fashion. Those that were too impatient bribed the staff with bottles. Free market in action. Or they might just have been nice :)