Earlier I mentioned that I went to a wine tatsing event and here is the sommelier, maitre d', general wine font of knowledge for the evening. Aside from his rather suspicious bouffant hair, he was actually extremely knowledgeable.

It's a funny old game this wine tatsing lark. Witness the spittoon for instance:

Very unsavoury. You'll be pleased to know I greedily swallowed all the drink and didn't use this vulgar device.