Another year of twists and turns, ups and downs…and yet an incredibly rewarding year. My annual “Year in review” process lies ahead in the festive break to come; and I imagine I will share some of my reflections with you in due course. And so on a lighter note, this – my last post of the year – I wanted to share the results of another little project in 2024…my “Top 10 wines for therapists”!
My interest in wine really took a hold during the Covid pandemic – not just in the ordinary way of easing the stresses and strains of what was a testing period. Literally just before the first lockdown I had enrolled and completed a 12 week wine tasting course with a friend. It was fascinating to learn why I liked the wines I did, as well as get introduced to new varieties and types…I guess my Little Professor got engaged quite literally and metaphorically with a thirst for more: and I still love exploring and learning about viniculture. Holiday plans often revolve around wine growing regions, and some of my best social experiences are visits to restaurants based on la carte du vin.
I’m also a sucker for wine bottle design and label art. My dining room has various “trophies”; in the main bottles with the traditional embossed marque or vineyard, many from the French Cote du Rhone. The French are less imaginative when it comes to labels (perhaps confident it’s the content that sells!) and so I’ve a new hobby of finding colourful and artistic designs. It wasn’t long before I started seeing therapeutic themes – et voila, after les soirées with colleagues this list was born!
| At number 10, we have Il Folle: this “wild and crazy joker” is a full bodied Nero d’avola with “gorgeous aromatics of blackberry liqueur and vanilla”. My first sampling of this wine was having dinner with an ex-tutor and now dear friend – she won’t mind me making the link to this wine and her jovial character! |  |
| At number 9, we have I Think Manzanilla En Rama. I’m not a dry sherry fan but the label caught my eye while out for a CPD dinner with a colleague. The tasting notes describe it as “aromatic and fresh with a salty twang and citrus hints”. |  |
| At number 8 is L’ Ancienne Cure, selected for connotation of the talking cure but also for its sublime taste. This Monbazillac wine has a "wonderful golden robe, barley sugar bouquet and complex dried fruit palate offset by a fine acidity". |  |
| At number 7, Los Tontos Sabios or the wise fools. Admittedly, I have yet to try this one – but the label jumped out at me while shopping: I went back the next day and it had sold out so it can’t be bad! |  |
| At number 6, Zero manipulation – the "no agenda" attitude all therapists must hold toward their work. The blend of Carignan, Grenache, and Syrah is one of my favourites. Tasting notes are given as "inviting aromas of wild red fruits, hints of spice and a rustic minimality”. No arguments from me. |  |
| At number 5 we have one for the Gestalt therapists: Bold move, a nod to the method of "blurting" or say what you think, and reminder to stay courageous to the phenomenological method. After seeing this in the Laithwaites membership magazine it was ordered for the festive season! |  |
| At number 4, we have the Elephant in the room. A dear friend bought me a large plastic elephant for my practice room – a reminder to always be looking for process left unspoken. “Name it to tame it” as it is said…and a rather drinkable pinot noir at that |  |
| Now to the top 3, starting with Solms delta. I recently listened to a podcast interview with the neuropsychoanalyst Mark Solms and the story of his family’s vineyard. Some Google searching, and a few days later I was picking a couple of bottles up from Seven Cellars in Hove…much to the delight of some of my teaching colleagues! |  |
| At number 2, a beautiful label and a wonderful gift – Primordial soup was offered to me by a good friend and colleague. We have been exploring expansive conversations about mind and the transpersonal lately so this was rather fitting! Its rather gorgeous on the palate too! |  |
| And, the winner is…La chasse au chagrin! This is the wine to “dispel all sorrows”…the invite to sit in solitude on that label. What made this all the better was finding such a beautiful label among the usually quite traditional 'ettique' of Alsace. |  |
Those close, and in the promotion zone include the full bodied “Dark Corner” Durif Shiraz, the spicy and smooth “Butterfly effect”, and by no means least “The Doctors”.
I’d love to hear of any more suggestions for this database!
In the meantime, wishing you all a restful and resourcing festive period and all the very best for the forthcoming year.