I was even happier when I looked at my train ticket for Marseilles and it was for the day I arrived, ten hours earlier along with my car rental.

Lesson one make sure your travel agent gives you all of your stuff more than 48 hours before you leave so you can check it over.

I was bit nervous when I arrived in Marseilles, the city is a labyrinth of one way streets but my appointment at Domaine Tempier was in an hour or so the last ting I wanted to do was drive around the city for an hour trying to find my way out, surprisingly getting out was no problem, other than traffic.

I arrived at time Daniel and I jumped in his car went to tour La Migoua vineyard, there was problem he told me, I asked what it was, he said you’ll see.

Imagine my surprise when I saw a small front-end loader tipped over the terrace on its shovel listing dangerously sideways.

Francois, the 70-year-old owner was rebuilding the wall of the terrace from the wrong side, you do it looking up to it not from the top. No roll bar, no seat belt he is luck to be alive. We left in such haste that I left my camera in my car.

Off we went to see La Tourtine, passing a massive housing development on hill, some 40 years ago one a negociant told Daniel, these were the best vines in Bandol, sadly they are gone, no one knows how good his wines or Bandol could be.

Off we went to lunch then our tastings of the 2010 & 2011 vintages. More on them later

After our tasting Daniel asked me, so what do you want to taste, jokingly I asked for the 1959, my birth year and like 2009 generally a kick ass vintage around the wine world.

Imagine my surprise when he held in his hand a bottle of 1959, only three bottles are left now.

The cork was soft and unfortunately the wine was oxidized. However most of the colour was till there, there is no doubt in my mind if anyone finds a bottle of 1959 Domaine Tempier Bandol they well be rewarded.

Undaunted, and somewhat disappointed Daniel went in the back picked out a bottle of 1986 La Tourtine, which at that time had a part of Cabassou in it.

The 1988 La Louffe, mostly made with Cinsault and was only made for two vintages 1987 & 1988. It is hard to describe Cinsault, suffice it to say the bightness of the acidity has kept the wine alive.

My friend Ali told me about Rob, & Louis who are standing on the corner of Cambie & Water street, in front of the Starbucks, for the 12 days of Christmas rain, cold or  what little shine we get,  until the with their East Van Truck is FILLED.  Take 30 mniutes out of your day, shop for some high protein non-perishable food and bring it donw to the boys. Lets fill the truck – lets show people that Vancouver cares.

Through social media I have an amazing group of people, with food and wine the common bond. We all have similar frustrations and stories about soporific bureaucrats impeding ideas, frustrating business, growth of our people, our industry & province. Now is our opportunity to voice those concerns, one story at a time.

On Wednesday December 21^st #BC Wine Chat http://bcwinechat.com/schedule/ will have on line discussion through Twitter on the following topics.

Interprovincial Wine Shipments in Canada December 21^st 2011

Custom Crush Facilities in BC December 28^th, 2011

BCLDB Regulations for Wineries January 4^th, 2011

BCLDB Regulations for Retailers and Restaurants, January 11^th, 2012

Tweet, Face Book, Blog, and text this to as many of your friends and industry colleagues as you can. Get them to tell their personal stories of how government interference has wasted time, money and above all cost us jobs.

I can tell you from conversations I have had with people in the Ministry of Jobs and Tourism & Innovation, is that they have no idea on what transpires on the street and how it affects small business, LET’S DO IT, and make our voices be heard.