When our editor asked me to go to CBS Wine’s inaugural wine festival, I must admit, I was quite unsure on whether or not to take the job. Though I felt honored, my initial thoughts were of my complete lack of wine knowledge and my fear of pulling a Dr. Steve Brule in wine country. But being a man that loves free alcohol and the excitement of socializing, I grabbed my camera man and off we went.
As we came upon the location of the event, I was instantly impressed. Not so much by my or my companion’s lack of outstanding attire, but by the absolute magnificence of Kjær & Sommerfeldt. Surround by wine bottles, stacked to the ceiling, I couldn’t help but feel insanely jealous of whoever worked in this wine wonderland. When we regained our composure, we picked up the wine list, our glasses, checked our sobriety at the coat check and began what I can easily describe as the coolest event of the year so far.
The wine list was complete with a variety of whites and reds from countries such as Argentina, Austria, New Zealand, Germany and France to name just a few. With over 50 wines to choose from organized by country, guests were able to mix and mingle while casually strolling from table to table to sample any wine to their heart’s (or liver’s) desire. Each table was equipped with at least one knowledgeable staff member along with a small basin to pour (or even spit) out the sample so you could move on to the next. As the evening progressed, it became more and more apparent that I should have had dinner before arriving as I began using my Hunter S. Thompson voice more and more casually.
Somewhere around my 20th sample I noticed that my camera man had vanished, leaving me alone with the socialites. Still in the mood to sample and having not yet learned a damned thing about wine, I hunted down Thor Jensen Mårup, one of the organizers of the event and member of the CBS Wine team. As we made our way from table to table, sampling some of his personal favorites from the selection, Thor demonstrated to me just how important CBS Wine is to CBS and to students everywhere in Copenhagen. His passion for wine and vision for sharing that passion with anyone open to it only means great things are to come for him and this organization.
When the tasting was done, it was almost impossible to find someone who hadn’t purchased at least one bottle. In fact, it was impossible to see anyone who looked like they might have had a poor experience. Spirits were high, noses were red, and lips were stained. And as my camera man and I parted ways with the socialites, I couldn’t help but feel content. And that’s not just because I had gotten drunk, but because of the potential of CBS Wine. Such a great success of an evening like this only means bigger and better things are to come.
