At a time when we’re all trying to futureproof our professions, I’m sitting here in Tilburg in the Netherlands in a welding workshop. I’m not planning a switch to the more manual world of bodywork any time soon but am here interpreting for a French bodyshop that is being certified by the car manufacturer to obtain their accreditation. They are gearing up for a thriving future filled with electric cars.

So why am I making plans for my next oenology course and prospection campaign in Burgundy? Is this about sustainable career building or a nostalgic retreat back to the earth, into a centuries-old tradition that is also falling victim to new trends and a new generation?

Today’s young adults are consuming less and less wine and, when they do, opting more for easy-drinking, festive whites rather than the more seriously complex, robust reds. The growing shift away from red meat is also turning the proverbial knife in the side of the market for powerful reds, while alcohol-free wines are all the rage.

So, should I turn my sights from high-voltage to Haut-Médoc, from cars to Cahors, from chassis to Chablis ? My plan is to juggle between my love of cars and my passion for wine, in parallel rather than simultaneously mind you, as the don’t drink and drive campaigns remind us.

Specialising is all about immersion and practical experience. On the ground, the words on the page take on tangible meaning. In the automotive industry, the official terminology becomes tinged with the colourful terms actually used in the workshops, while tasting and understanding wine gives my vocabulary a genuine taste of the terroir.

Far from being a translator with only a theoretical grasp of the subject matter, both of the immersions (at the electric car manufacturer who-must-no-longer-be-named and at the Ecole des Vins et des Spiritueux) have allowed me to extend my range and upgrade my options and enjoy a new body of knowledge and depth of experience. In short, I am looking back to the future… with moderation.