You might have heard of claret, the catch-all, English-gentleman’s name for the red wines of Bordeaux. Nowadays, the word evokes images of an “I say there, old chap” class of power-lunch-eating, expense-account-drinking Oxford graduates. But claret wasn’t always the preserve of the rich and privileged. The word is an anglicization of “clairet,” which was cheaply […]
Those who equate wine with sophistication and civility must not know about the Battle of the Wines. Called La Bataille des Vins in its original French, this circa-1224 poem by Henry d’Andeli depicts an epic, wine-soaked battle royale. It’s rich with trash-talking clergy, nationalistic rivalries, and bathroom humor. The hero of our story is King […]
The origins of mulled wine are murky, but the concept (masking subpar hooch with spice-rack staples) is as old as time. Greeks and Romans sugared and spiced runoff wine as early as the 2nd century. In the Middle Ages, folks lacking access to potable water spiked wine and cider with “medicinal” infusions like honey, saffron, bay […]
Venice has always been a region with vineyards. In fact, grapes have been grown on the various islands in the lagoon for the past 2,500 years. But, alas, in recent years grape cultivation has dwindled, resulting in the loss and almost extinction of a grape once so prized that wealthy Venetians placed it on their […]
Pick up your latest wine purchase and examine the bottle. Besides a long, elegant neck, a corked (or screw-capped) top, and an eye-catching label, what else do you spot? Hint: check the bottom of your bottle. If you answered a ”dimple,” then you just singled out one of the most mysterious features of the wine […]
Today is Thomas Jefferson’s birthday (cheers to you, president). While you probably know him best for being the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, you may not have pegged the president as a wine mogul. However, believe it or not, Jefferson was a huge fan of European wine – and bringing it to America. […]
