Observations from a novice: Week 1: Introduction

I think we've all had enough of the terms 'credit crunch', 'downturn' and 'recession'. Little did many of us realise that the Olympics would be not only an iconic sporting event, but a blessed relief from the gloom and doom predicted (rightly or wrongly) on the breakfast news economics review.

So treads this column lightly into a space that the credit crunch has created... no, not the champagne space, that seems to have been already taken. I mean the space for a little humour. Because, lets face it, someone leaving a well paid job in a bank to start a business in the wine industry during the time of economic downturn,has to be funny. (Didn't someone once say something about fine lines, humour and madness...?)

Over the next few weeks, should you, my new wine industry colleagues, and Harper's allow, I would like to share some of the experiences I have had as I have entered, and attempted to navigate, this scary and wonderful industry. I hope, that in some amusing way, I might remind you what it feels like to be the only silent swiller and dribbler amongst a crowd of slurpers and spitters, what it feels like to find oneself staring blankly at the praise of a 'fresh fruity' wine which, just an hour before, was 'dry and lifeless' and what it feels like to spend so much time driving around the country, that one is not able to even enjoy the processed and bottled fruits of one's labour.

Feel free to give your comments, advice and general observations on my experiences as we go. Who knows, it might lighten all of our loads a little!

Lucy Khoneizer is the owner of new (and hopefully very successful) company, Lebanese Fine Wines.

• Harpers Says...