I was working in Antwerpen, those days, and had found an importer of South-African wines that was selling cellar left-overs for really extremely good prices. I couldn't resist and, on several occasions, bought a bottle or two, to be tried a couple of days later.

Joren, aged 2 1/2 and some, sitting next to me on his high kids' chair expected a sip every time I had a bottle. I just let him wet his lips, and that was that.

One bottle I bought was a real top-class wine, being pretty expensive for my doing, even after the considerable discount. I opened it on a Sunday night, with a very good meal.

That night, from the moment he breathed the expensive wine, and had a sip, his little face lighted up as a small sun, his little hands flew to the glass to try to keep it, and retain it for as long as possible. He got more than the lipwetting, as his da was flabbergasted, and had an instant of visions of a grown-up Joren spending his fathers' money on wines and spirits of the best...