1. The manuscripts of both my Israeli Wine Book and My Kosher Wine Book have been submitted. I can add wines and make changes until the first edit is back with me on approximately 12 May. That give me five days to taste or re-taste 122 wines, all of which have arrived during the last week.
2. I am now starting work on the 2013 books. I have a list of 29 Israeli wineries and 8 kosher producers in Europe whose wines I have not yet tasted. I shall start telephoning those wineries next week.
3. I am working on my itinerary for wineries that must be visited and wines tasted during the course of the next 11 months. According to my tentative calculations I shall actually visit 129 wineries, shall have meetings in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with 42 wineries; and shall arrange for tastings for the wines of an additional 82 wineries.
4. I have three tasting tasting trips planned to the United States (almost entirely kosher wines); am travelling on five occasions to France (Bordeaux twice, Champagne, the Rhone and the Loire once each); will visit Italy on three occasions (Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto. (During the trips to the USA I intend to set aside enough time to meet with family)
5. In addition to the above, I will be attending five or more wine events in Israel, one in Verona and one in Tuscany.
6. For some people the New Year starts on 1 January, for some on Rosh HaShannah, for some on Tet. For me it starts on the evening that I ponder on all of the above and make a vow to survive until next year.
Best
Rogov
