Did You Know …………… Fact #8
In jolly ole England, pub drinks are served in pints and quarts. English bartenders would respectfully ask unruly customers to mind their pints and quarts. This is said to be where the origin of the phrase “mind your P’s and Q’s” came from. ...
Which wine was used to celebrate Duke Ellington’s 70th birthday?
It was the Perrier-Jouet “Flower Bottle” Champagne, a prestige cuvee bottling inlaid with enamel arabesques and white anemones. Originally designed by Emile Galle in 1902 to honor the Belle Epoque era, this Art Nouveau bottle was first reproduced in 1964 at the Alacazar restaurant in Paris, where guests gathered...
What is a hectare?
It is the metric unit of land measurement for which most of the world calculates the amount of vineyard area. We in the United States speak more in terms of acres. There are approximately 2.47 acres to one hectare. If only winemakers would eliminate the standard 750ml bottle and...
Did You Know ……… Fact #7
The wine buyer for the President of the United States and The White House, the dream job of all dream jobs, is officially named “the usher”. Since the Carter administration, it has been decreed that his job sees to it that only American wines be served at all state...
Did You Know …… Fact #6
The French appellation Graves is considered the oldest wine region in Bordeaux. This Left Bank region, known as the Birthplace of Claret, is the only renowned Bordeaux appellation that produces red wine (mostly Cabernet), dry white wine (blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon), and sweet wine (Sauternes)....
What is the number one tourist attraction in California?
For many years, Disneyland ruled. Now, wineries are king. The wine industry now attracts more than 18 million visitors to its wineries, tasting rooms, and vineyards. Who would have ever thought grapes could overtake a couple of cute mice....
Who are Crljenak Kastelanski and Tribidrag?
It’s our good friend, Mr. Zinfandel. Thought to be a native California grape, Zinfandel’s origins actually belong to the country of Croatia. The varietal also spread it’s wings to southern Italy, where it is grown and known as Primitivo....
What grape varietals make up Spanish Cava?
The 3 main grapes that are in Spain’s famous sparkling wine are Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parelleda. But in some instances, Chardonnay is now being included in some blends. A stark difference from true French Champagne which uses Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier exclusively. Cheers!...
Did You Know……. Fact #5
That German producer Schloss Johannisberg hosts the oldest Riesling vines in the world, first planted in 1720. The winery dates back to 768 AD when their first harvest yielded a mere 6 liters of wine. This property is so renowned, it was once purchased by Napoleon in 1806....
What is the difference between Pouilly-Fume and Pouilly-Fuisse?
Both French in origin and even though they are spelled similarly, the difference between them is night and day. Pouilly-Fume is made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape grown in the Loire Valley while Pouilly-Fuisse is made from the Chardonnay grape from Burgundy’s Maconnais region....