Proving your age
Monday 25 May
My anti-wrinkle cream must be working. I was asked for I.D. this weekend buying two bottles of wine on the way to teach at the London Wine Academy.
I’m sure one day when I’m old and wizened, I’ll be pleased to be asked for I.D.in Sainsbury’s but at the moment I’m feeling rather ashamed by the whole thing. I wouldn’t mind if I had been buying a decent bottle but it was Gallo’s Sycamore Canyon Cab Sav. Needless to say, it won’t be making my wine of the week. Nevertheless, most of the students on the course preferred its ripe, easy-going drinking than the Chateau Fontenilles from Bordeaux at twice the price.
Being young and in the wine industry is fabulous but at the same time it’s tough. In several interviews at the London wine fair, the interviewees said I didn’t look old enough to be drinking let alone grilling them on the latest issues. Thanks very much indeed.
We all have to work our way up the ladder over time but I wonder if other young people in the industry feel the same way? Or is it just me? I’d love to hear your thoughts…
Ashamed? And so you should be. You should know better than to buy a bottle of Gallo red at your age! Although maybe Sycamore Canyon Cab is an exception. Glad to hear the anti-wrinkle cream is working though. Er, what’s the brand?
- by Charles Metcalfe
I cant talk from a journalist perspective in the wine trade, however coming from a retail perspective I never really felt that it was a problem, then again I suppose that retail staff are usually expected to be younger, for whatever reason.
From a PR perspective (what I do now) I have never felt I wasn’t being taken seriously, then again I think it would help to be seen as being a little older and wiser, just so people put more weight behind your suggestions
- by Charlie Goblet d'Alviella