"You have the coolest job..."

That is something that I hear all the time. In fact, when my wife worked at Crate and Barrel, we both heard it. The truth is, I really do have a great job. I am one of a small majority of people that got to turn my hobby into my income. Seriously, what other job do you get to try some of the best wines in the world, eat at the best restaurants, and get to know some of the greatest people around? However, it ain't all roses either. I just wanted to let you all know of a couple of reasons you might not want to consider a job as a salesperson for a wine distributor.

1- you spend a lot of time alone, in your car, driving around. I know one person that this was a major reason for them quitting their job as a rep.

2- you still have a boss to answer to- despite all the glitz and glamour, I still have to be accountable for my monthly numbers, and to sell some things that my boss wants me to sell.

3- you must learn to be incredibly patient. Sometimes, I wait at a retail store or restaurant for an hour or more to show them a wine that they may not buy.

4- you do try some really crappy wine. For each of the wines that we sample that are fantastic, there are three or four that are terrible.

5- you can't fear rejection. I get told "no" every day. More often than not. It's not personal- they aren't rejecting you. They just don't need that particular wine at that given moment.

6- it leads to an almost unhealthy, expensive obsession with good wine and dining. This may or may not be a deterrant, but the truth is that eating out a lot and drinking great wines is dangerous on the pocket book, and the waistline!

Enough negativity- I still love my job!

Today's recommendation: 2007 Iris Pinot Gris from Oregon

What's the difference between Pinot Gris, and Pinot Grigio? The way it's spelled on the label. These are the same grape. Typically, if it comes from Italy, it's called Pinot Grigio, and if it's from America or France, it's Pinot Gris.

This particular one is from some vineyards that just released the Iris brand out of Oregon. The vineyards sit on the other side of a ridge from the Willamette (rhymes with "dammit") Valley. Since they don't lie within the boundaries of that appellation, Iris has put "Oregon" on the label. This also probably saves you 50% on the price of the bottle!

Go and find a bottle- should be around $15 retail. You will get some wonderful Green Apple, Peach, and lemon notes out of it, along with some herbal touches. Cook up some chicken on the grill and cole slaw, and enjoy!

Cheers, and have a great weekend!