Day in the Life: Diana Thompson, founder of Fizz Feast
Diana Thompson, founder of Scotland’s only sparkling wine festival Fizz Feast, is gearing up for the annual event in Edinburgh today. Here she talks through a day in the festival’s build-up.
6am
In the run-up to Fizz Feast, which I organise and run in Edinburgh every November, I’m up early to creep into my office for an hour before the rest of the family wakes up. I plan the day ahead and work on any creative pieces. It’s a time when I’m only likely to get distracted by the dog looking for an early walk, so it’s invaluable.
8am
I get my daughters up and we walk to school with our Labrador. I’ll listen to a wine podcast on the way back, if I have a presentation to prepare for. When time allows, I meet a friend for a quick swim in the sea at Wardie Bay. It is getting noticeably chillier now, so it’s all the more rewarding afterwards when I’m warm and dry, and have a cup of tea in my hands. I sometimes bump into Kirstie Campbell, who is an exhibitor at Fizz Feast for the first time this year.
10am
Back at my desk I tackle what frequently feels like a never-ending to-do list. It is always full of interesting things though and, at the moment, involves catching up with the fascinating people who are taking a stand at this year’s event. With 18 wine producers, several from overseas and eight artisan Scottish food or specialist drinks producers attending, there is a lot to organise. I regularly have wines to pack up for tastings that need to be booked in with the courier by midday. There are often new drinks to be tasted, notes written and bottles popped in the fridge for an evening of Zoom tasting. I do wonder if the neighbours who don’t know me well raise their eyebrows at what I’m doing with a dozen bottles of wine every evening.
12.30pm
One of the positives from Covid is my husband now works from home too, so we always stop for a bite of lunch together. It has become a welcome ritual.
3.20pm
School pick-up time always seems to race round. I collect our youngest daughter, who is quite capable of coming home on her own, but being the youngest of three, I’m keen to hang onto this opportunity to walk with her and chat about her day. I try to be around as much as I can, although things often crop up in the last few weeks before Fizz Feast. 6pm
It’s on with the make-up and all the other preparation for the 7pm tasting. I was lucky enough to visit Napa Valley a few years ago and took a photo at the stunning Inglenook Winery, one of the oldest in Napa. The picture, which shows a vineyard stretching into the distant hills under a brilliant blue sky, is my Zoom backdrop.
7pm
Wines are open, the scene is set, connections are checked and an entertaining hour or two begins.
8pm-ish
The tasting is over and I am always delighted to have shared new wines with people.
10.30pm
Bed.
Fizz Feast takes place at The Edinburgh Academy, 42 Henderson Row, Edinburgh, today. Tickets from www.wineeventsscotland. co.uk/fizz-feast/