The worst thing that could happen to a winemaker.

[Ericphotoart]

Yes. This is probably the worst thing. A few days ago I got covid. The first time since the beginning of the pandemic. I lost sense of smell and tatse. I took a few days off from work and I could take care of a few carboys but without being able to smell or taste anything it’s worthless. I racked Merlot Forte yesterday because the oak cubes had to be removed and I could not smell what it was. So weird!

 

[RylanJacobs]

That's such a tough thing to experience, Eric. I am so sorry!

If it's any consolation, everyone I have known who lost their sense of taste and smell eventually got it back. For some, it took a few months. Others, it only took a few weeks.

Hope your recovery is swift!

 

[Ted Brumleve]

So more than three years ago with the first outbreak, I lost my senses of taste and smell. After about 4 months, I bought an essential oils fragrance kit and daily went through sniffing the 6 bottles. After about a month, my sense of smell returned for which I am grateful. Need to smell smoke, and gasoline, and odorant in natural gas. Taste never fully came back. I sense peanut butter and cilantro, but mostly have to ask my wife how something tastes. It's inconvenient, but there are about a million Americans prematurely dead from Fauci's experiment and I was barely ill at all. You'd think I'd lose a few pounds, but I really enjoy the texture of foods now.

 

[Ericphotoart]

I started taking vitamin B12. I read it helps to recover those senses quicker although I don't know how true it is.

 

[sour_grapes]

Sorry to hear that! Good luck on your recovery.

 

[winechef]

Definitely sucks, I also am a chef and make perfumes, it was almost a month without full use of my olfactory senses. I had to retrain my nose.

just take your time get well soon. you'll be ok in the long run

 

[Ericphotoart]

Thank you guys. I feel much better but the taste and smell is 0%.

 

[Cap Puncher]

Yes. This is probably the worst thing. A few days ago I got covid. The first time since the beginning of the pandemic. I lost sense of smell and tatse. I took a few days off from work and I could take care of a few carboys but without being able to smell or taste anything it’s worthless. I racked Merlot Forte yesterday because the oak cubes had to be removed and I could not smell what it was. So weird!

I lost my smell totally for about a 10-14 days, I immediately ordered one of the essential oils smell kits on Amazon and started using right away. After 4-5 days of using it, I started to notice faint smells on some, by a months time I was back to normal. There are studies that suggest the essential oils smell training works. I’d give it a shot.

MOXĒ Smell Training Kit, Made in USA, 4 Essential Oils, Olfactory Regeneration, Helps Restore Sense of Smell, Natural Therapy for Smell Loss (Phase 1) https://a.co/d/8s67tP8

 

[Twkundrat]

I read about a winemaker in France who accidentally crushed his own head in his wine press. I'd say that's a worse thing that could happen to a wine maker. Just sayin...

 

[David Violante]

My turn. First time. Made it pretty far for being a paramedic. Started with chills then post nasal drip. I sat in the hot tub with a glass of Zin and thought, what the hell did I bottle this for, this is terrible…! Ohhh…

Coffee in the morning was equally a disappointment. Hot creamy water. Interestingly, I get the sensation of acids and tannins in things, just not the taste of what’s with them. I tried a pecan whiskey… water. That’s dangerous... LOL

Essential oil kit it is. I’ll leave the wine press in the garage.

 

[Ericphotoart]

I've just returned from my vacation in Punta Cana, all-inclusive resort. I was so worried before the flight that my taste and smell will not return and I will miss all this great food that was waiting for me. Well, the first day, Saturday, I could taste and smell only the food with more distinct flavor. Sunday was much, much better. I could describe as 60-70% return to normal. And Monday was almost normal. What a relive to be able to enjoy all this countless dishes and exotic juices! Today I will have to rack 2 wines and I will taste some of my wines to make sure I have the same experience. And David, this is exactly what I was experiencing about 10 days ago. If I eat something blindfolded I wouldn't be able to recognize anything, maybe only by the texture. So weird experience.

 

[sour_grapes]

So glad that you are on the road to recovery! Hope you will make full recovery.

 

[David Violante]

Very happy that you were able to enjoy the time away - and that those senses came back! There is such amazing food in the DR. One of the best barracuda dishes I had was there. Mine are beginning to come back as well. At first things were pretty generalized but it's getting better each day as well.

 

[Ericphotoart]

It was so funny when we arrived on the 13th, Saturday. Before our room was ready, we went to a buffet during lunch time. I was so damn hungry. My eyes were eating every dish and those amazing deserts. My wife was just laughing at me while I was eating like there is no tomorrow. After some time I was totally full and all I could do was just imaging what I really ate because I couldn't taste anything or almost anything. I think God had mercy on me and gave me my taste back the next day but not 100%. He probably tried to tell me - "be a better person and I will give you more".

 

[Jusatele]

I had oral cancer on my tongue about 15 years ago and they took off both sides

I had to recover my sense of taste as that is where sour comes from and a lot of that was gone

I also had a friend lose taste do to Covid but slowly recovered

guess I am trying to say, don't give up