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Paul Graham

@wine.wombat

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The wine & spirit from a glass’s humble servant - Global Director for Iconic Wineries of British Columbia

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I get to do, and have done, a lot of unique and exciting things in my life. When you have kids your world changes. My two boys are my life. Both have unique interests and passions which makes it all so interesting. Watching my youngest grow to love music, develop his own passions and love the wilder side of life has been amazing. Getting to share Iron Maiden’s 50th anniversary party at Knebworth where the last band I saw here was ‘that’ gig by Oasis was special. The theatre last night was incredible, The Noise ‘overwhelming’ at times and the people made it unreal. He got to see one of the world’s special performances and be a part of such a great community. ‘Daddy, give me 1000 @ironmaiden concerts for 1 x Taylor Swift’ - I carefully looked away as I shed a tear lols…… next up Def Leppard, The Amazons and Fall Out Boy - keep practicing that guitar chap! #Edfest #ironmaiden 🤘🤘🤘🤘 taken in Knebworth by @wine.wombat

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3 months ago

And then a v small piece of history as we undertake to replant over 1million vines. This is a phenomenal undertaking led by a very special viticultural team. One of the best I have had the pleasure to listen to and call colleagues. All 200 of us planted new Chardonnay vines… Leaving our own small, gentle mark on the valley, a true legacy piece. Planted as the snow whipped on our faces, coming down from the hill-top as Mother Earth reminded us we are but a speck on her incredible and unique planet. There is great and awesome power here, a gentleness but a wildness and toughness which is of its place. There is also a vibrancy and richness quietly bringing life as spring returns. It’s v cool. taken in CheckMate Artisanal Winery by @wine.wombat

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6 months ago

I am kind of a weirdo at times…. But nothing like soil and the land to give you the feeling of your sense of place. Today we did something so simple but so important. We gave all of our full time team members a true sense of who we are when we head to work. We are true custodians of this special place. We are not accountants or maintenance teams or sales people we are storytellers and protectors of a truly special & ancient valley formed millennia ago. Today we saw our true DNA. Formed over centuries of movement and glacial shifts. The difference between two sites only separated by 2miles but so different. True diversity of terroir. One site formed by the melting glacier and velocity of water as the valley creaked when the water flowed fast and deep leaving post-glacial till, sandy soils and small smooth pebbles but such distinctive sub-strata of sandy types. Then across the valley a cross section ‘dug out’ in a pit showing the ‘alluvial fan till & silt’ left but the on-rushing water but chunkier pieces of roc left by the ever shifting mountains. Each causing such differences in the planted vines. 200 of our team sat, stood, got into the pits, crumbled soil and shared stories of the valley. We had blue skies, wind, rain, snow and long searching horizons. This must be one of the wildest places still on earth. It’s very special. What makes our wine special is how hard we work to understand the land, to listen and observe its nuance and specific differences just yards apart. Some clones won’t work ‘here’ but ‘thrive there’ - this soils holds water ‘here’ but not ‘there’ - we’re moving a vineyard to catch more of the morning sunlight but to protect it from the later intense heat from the sun in the late afternoon. This varietal needs freshness so protection from too intense sunlight, water retention in the soil in parts and nestled near the mountains rock wall (which is so dense it absorbs all that warmth in the day) it slowly releases the heat overnight close in…. All of these tiny things…. . But nothing is forced. We’re farming with a philosophy just as they would have over 3 or 4 centuries ago. In an age of immediacy and impatience we stand apart. taken in Oliver, British Columbia by @wine.wombat

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6 months ago

Vitamin Sea, fresh air, spring sunshine and quiet beaches….. a busy year in the offing and this is the tonic….i love to travel but nothing beats getting away with the family ❤️ taken in Bembridge Harbour by @wine.wombat

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7 months ago

15yrs ago today you changed my life forever & I couldn’t love you more than what I love you today. Happy 15yr anniversary, we are the best blend’ ever - just like the finest champagne ❤️ @lucycousens by @wine.wombat

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7 months ago

Simply the best valentines weekend with Sholto, showing him around ‘auld reekie’ - packing in so much in a short time, explaining some of the history of the city and walking our socks off…. And oh yeah… bit of a rugby game too. He may be a basketball nut now but still enjoys his rugby (or enjoys humouring his old man) but what an atmosphere and when flower of Scotland rang out it was spine tingling…. So much fun, apparently the @british_airways #painauchocolat are the best. 🤷 thanks @hilton for being awesome finding us a table amid the total chaos in your restaurant and the amazing service and #Edinburgh for bringing the incredible weather. 24hrs to never forget… 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏉 🏆 #calcuttacup taken in Edinburgh, United Kingdom by @wine.wombat

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8 months ago

And just like that Paris we say ‘au revoir’ - until next time but never goodbye. A wonderful #wineparis with so many friends old and new - handshakes, hugs, kissing, fist bumps and high fives. Swirling, sipping, spiting, sniffing & savouring all the great wines of the world all in one place for a great 3 days. Our first time exhibiting and blazing a trail for all #Canadianwines - we’re not here to maw up the numbers, our wines can sit amongst some of the very best of the world and this week proved it to so many. So many people to thank, so much hard work but we did it & next year we’ll be back brining the best of the Okanagan valley to the world stage again…,, until 2027 then 🇫🇷 🍁 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🍷 taken in Paris, France by @wine.wombat

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8 months ago

🇫🇷 🇬🇧 🇦🇷 🇮🇹 🇨🇦 Wine Paris with beautiful industry colleagues and friends! @vinexposium
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#wineparis #wineindustry #finewine #winelover #winetime taken in Paris, France by @wine.wombat

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8 months ago

Another great opportunity to get the three generations to #welfordroad - chilly but epic night under lights to see @leicestertigers wallop Bayonne. I am extremely grateful to the @leicestertigers family who ALWAYS ensure my father can get access to these matches via accessible seating and parking. Without your support it would be too uncomfortable for him to go. It makes it a truly special event for us all getting together & continuing the tradition! Also great for the boys to see their favourite players so close @freddiestewardd taken in Leicester Tigers Welford Road Stadium by @wine.wombat

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9 months ago

Being a Pops is the best thing in the world. Being part of helping young humans find their place is the world is a big responsibility and should be embraced, it should be relished but it remains a very big responsibility to do what’s right for the children not your own vicarious joy. This week I had to set aside my own personal views & hopes and remember to make sure it was my boy who should be smiling because of his own enjoyment not because he felt an obligation to. - life lessons from a 12yr old. It was always more the ‘occasion’ yesterday and less of the specific sport. They may never love rugby as I do but they love hanging out and I couldn’t be happier. Sometimes takes a little heartache to keep you honest and reflect the right values back. I almost cried yesterday when my youngest son said ‘daddy, this was amazing (during his McDonald’s afterwards) today but I am not sure it was as exciting as the other England v Scotland match we saw with the Mr Incredible player cutting up England…’ (Duhan V. De Merwe) - they will always be brought up to support who the want but I think Henry Pollock may be the new DVdM now. 😭😂😂 taken in Twickenham Stadium by @wine.wombat

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a year ago

Thanks #NewYork you bossed it - steamy for sure in the city but a city like no other. Every time I visit you pull out the stops! I am going to stick my neck out and say one of the very best cities for wine lists in the world. So many rockstars in so many places. Looking forward to the return match in Oct…. It is, however, a delight to be back in England for proper #marmalade @tiptreeofficial

Great to see you too @franswine - let’s go for a glass of non-caffeine based juice next time brother!

@dreyfusashby
@thenoortwyck
@yaleclubnyc
@astorwines
@millesimausa
@junoonrestaurant
@marearestaurants
@thegreydognyc
@elevenmadisonpark
❤️
#newyorkcity taken in Manhattan, New York by @wine.wombat

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a year ago

So, I am coming to the end of my first week in British Columbia as the new Global Director of The Iconic Wineries of British Columbia (Okanagan Valley). It’s a phenomenal opportunity; a great business, a visionary founder and a magic team. Driven purely by the focus on making the very best wine they can in the region without compromise. An emphasis on wine being made in the vineyards ‘with the land’ is not bullshit wine-speak its practised here every day and a more challenging climate and wild surroundings you may not find but it’s a very talented, experienced, honest team working every day just to do things properly, what’s right for the land will yield the best in the bottle. 🇨🇦🍁🍷🌏 taken in Kelowna, British Columbia by @wine.wombat

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2 years ago