There is a saying that goes, "It is a great pleasure to work here."
I think this is a very mature thing to say.
"It's a great reward for a teacher to see my students doing so well," or "It's a great reward for an actor to see them cry at my performance."
Children are too young to use this word.
You wouldn't say, "This is a present from Santa! It's a great honor to be a child," and it's a bit of a stretch to say, "Everyone's given me their opinions, it's a great honor to be a class representative."
I think it's a word that should be used by working adults.
I did my job well. I accomplished something that changed someone's life for the better.
It is only when you have this realization that you can use the expression "it is a great pleasure."
Therefore, I don't think you should lightly say things like, "It's the greatest joy of being a sommelier that you say the wine I chose is delicious."
If you're a sommelier, that's something you can do every day, and it's normal. If you do it every day, the rewards will become cheaper.
Anyway, the joy of working doesn't just disappear in your daily life. It only disappears when you feel the utmost gratitude for your work. That's how I interpret it.
After this preface, I would like to tell you about a truly rewarding experience that occurred last Sunday.
The event in question was "attending the wedding and reception of two regular customers I met at Bokumo."
No matter how you look at it, this is a great product and one that is safe to use.
I was really happy. I'm glad I'm doing this job.
The groom has been a regular at Bokumo since it first opened (he is one of the few customers who remembered the first day it opened). The bride started coming to Bokumo because of a musical connection.
I was happy to hear, "Actually, we've started dating," but I was even happier to hear the news of their marriage.
The store became the place where the two met, went on dates, and eventually became husband and wife.
I haven't done anything in particular other than creating the space, but I felt simply grateful to realize that creating a space can sometimes bring rewards like this.
A while ago, a couple came to the counter and asked me, "Would you be willing to do something like this at our wedding reception?", so on the day I performed a ritual called a "wine ceremony."
It looks like this.
First, prepare sparkling wine, white wine, and a large decanter of about 1.8 liters.
The groom holds the sparkling wine and the bride holds the white wine.
"Each bottle of wine has its own personality, just like a person with their own personality.
On this day of departure, the two wines with their own unique personalities will be blended together to create a one-of-a-kind blend.
So, bride and groom, please!"
At a signal, they both pour their wine into decanters at the same time.
"Look, here we have a one-of-a-kind Harmony wine.
I would like to share this taste of happiness with everyone."
The usual procedure is to introduce the wine in this manner and then serve it to everyone, but on the day of the event we added a twist.
After they had finished blending the wine, he poured 100ml of red wine into a small decanter and said,
"Actually, this wine isn't finished yet.
Of course, there will be ups and downs in being a married couple. There will be sweet times and bitter times.
However, that slight bitterness is actually a necessary element to maintain a good balance.
Today, let's express that through wine.
A wine with a bitter taste and astringency is considered to be red wine.
I would like to pour a little red wine into this and let it change further.”
When the bride and groom pour the red wine, it turns a beautiful pink color.
When the pouring is finished, there is applause.
"We have now created a beautiful rosé wine that is one of a kind, with a sweet and bitter taste.
So let's all enjoy this wine together."
...Well, that's what the ceremony was like.
By the way, the wines used were " Cloudy Bay Perolus " (sparkling wine), " Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc " (white wine), and " Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir " (red wine).
It was very gorgeous, with a refreshing citrus flavor and a slight astringency, making it an absolutely delicious wine.
When I started the restaurant, I never expected such a happy moment to be waiting for me. It was the day when the joys of being a restaurant manager and a sommelier came to an end.
If you keep working hard, you will suddenly find joy.
Next up, I'd like to continue working hard at my wine shop "Bokumo Wine," dreaming of something happening that would make me "happy to run a shop."
This week's pairing
"Beef fillet wrapped in pie with sauce Madele"
It was the main dish at the reception. Amazing!
I chose this wine from the selection and paired it with...
The soft, gentle and complex flavours were perfectly blended with the meat and sauce, and I literally collapsed off my chair.
Mahi Marlborough Pinot Noir 2018
By the way, the New Zealand wine used at the wedding reception was selected by the bride and groom at Bokumo Wine and sent directly from the shop to the venue. We are so grateful.
It was a series of events that felt so mountainous that I was a little worried that after such a beautiful mountain, a valley might come next.
So that I can endure the bittersweet valley that comes later, I'm going to prepare myself by drinking a good, astringent red wine today (just an excuse to drink).
