Tiếng ViệtDuring my early days in Saigon, I had the chance to meet an extraordinarily special person, Joel B. Payne. My boss, Bertrand, introduced me to him.
“This is Phương, who is in charge of all Marketing matters in my company,” Bertrand said. “And this is Joel, the Ambassador for Deutz and Delas.”
“Hello Phương. I am a wine writer. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Joel greeted me with a slight bow and a gentlemanly kiss on the hand, following the French custom. He handed me his business card with great respect.
I had encountered and worked with many people from various countries, but this was the first time I met such a refined gentleman. Joel exuded a sense of respect that made others feel valued. He shared stories about the current harvest at Deutz and the events surrounding the vineyards. I listened intently, even though I didn’t fully understand everything he said, I was genuinely intrigued. He spoke English with an American accent but used the elaborate literary style of British aristocracy, his voice rising and falling like a melodious tune. For the first time, I felt a strong desire to narrate wine stories as he did.
Becoming a writer is a path not many choose. Being a writer solely dedicated to wine was something I had never heard of until I met Joel. This encounter illuminated a previously undefined path for me: a wine writer. It was magical to realize that there is a profession where one dedicates their entire life to writing about a single subject—wine.
“It’s time for me to say goodbye as I have a lunch appointment nearby. It was a pleasure meeting you both. Let’s stay in touch via email,” Joel said as we parted ways.
I cherished his business card and immediately sought to learn more about him. I was astonished by what I discovered online about his achievements. Joel had been the President of the International Federation of Wine and Spirits Writers, had won first place three times in the German Sommelier competition, and had authored around twenty books on wine.
Joel was truly admirable. Meeting him filled me with an unusual sense of joy, as if a new path had been illuminated for me: a career as a dedicated wine writer.
