Jan sat next to me on the wooden wall. He was every thing a Dutch wine maker should be; tall, handsome, articulate, knowledgeable and he was a friend of Ashleigh.

Jan was a guest at Stanton a few years ago. He said that we were all blessed living in the Derwent Valley as we do. The air is different and the light picks out the green on the hills blending it with the purple sky. He lives in Sydney so I listened attentively.

We were at the Two Metre Tall Real Ale farm bar on one of those winter Saturdays where it is chilly but clear, then moving to a change of mood later on … it reminded me of the conviviality of the Trout Inn near Oxford, UK on an English winter’s day.

Everyone was at the brewery including Jan. He said he liked winter in Europe as it was a busy time with much to prepare for the new seasons ahead; the reward for effort being veggies and vines that actually work and give you something back.

He spoke like a farmer. I don’t think he is going to be a full time wine export manager in Sydney’s CBD for a great length of time. I’m glad such fellows as Jan and Ashleigh inhabit our world as talking to them provides me with mind flavour in a sometimes routine week.

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