An exciting year ahead! Happy Chinese New Year of the Pig! Can’t believe I’ve been back from my gap year for half a year already. I miss my time wandering in vineyards but am also glad to be back in action. 2019 is exciting on all fronts. South Africa is celebrating 360 years of winemaking history and 25 years of democracy. South African chef Dartnall Chantel, voted the Best Lady Chef in the World 2017, will be marking this special occasion with us at Discover South Africa April month. The once-every-three-years WOSA Sommelier Cup will also be held later this year. This will be an action-packed year for South Africa. Stay tuned. This year’s Riesling Weeks will launch a ‘German Asparagus x Wine’ sub-theme to coincide with the month-long promotion of German wine. Watch this space to find out where you can sample this German delicacy with perfect matching wine at restaurants near you. 2019 is also the 10th anniversary of Vintage Port Academy. Nearly 1,000 alumni have attended the workshops in Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and successfully passed the tests. They are ambassadors of premium port who share their appreciation of this fine wine with customers and friends. Follow VPA’s Facebook page for upcoming celebrations and workshops.  I’m also pleased that my own project, Wine Music Jam, will be returning in March and this time at PMQ in collaboration with March INN, an Indie music festival. There will be lots more wine, music and fun. Performers please sign up here. Tickets to the festival are available here. More information here. Another project that I have the idea for a few years is beginning to take shape. Together with a few like-minded friends, we are planning a trial run in near future. Don’t be surprised if you see 🏃🏻♂️🛵🍷! With all these projects and ideas, I don’t think I will take another gap year soon, but this memory is always in my mind. 
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