When I was a kid, I was intrigued by the metal detector commercial that always ran during cartoons. You all know the one I’m talking about. The pudgy guy who says, “She’s proud of all the weight I’ve lost.” That line, to me, competes for cheesiest commercial line ever, but it wasn’t enough to throw me off the scent of gold bullion lying just beneath the surface of my backyard. The dream eventually faded after digging massive holes in the yard and coming up with nothing, but I’m still captivated with the idea of buried treasure.
You expect to hear about coins, skeletons, and bottles, but fine beverage? Yes friends, some Swedish divers, while exploring a wreck about 200 feet down in the Baltic Sea, found 30 bottles of Champagne. The fizzy stuff is believed to date back to 1780 and was part of cargo headed to those boozehounds, the Russians (one theory is that the Champagne was part of a consignment to Peter the Great sent by King Louis XVI). Continue Reading »
Lots of exciting things happened in the fine beverage blogosphere this week. Here are some of Mutineer’s favorite posts of the week:
Spirit Blogs
Wine Blogs
- Don’t Bogart That Sip: Should Sommeliers Taste Your Wine Purchase? — (1WineDude)
- More Adventures in Wine Advertising — (Good Grape)
- The Secret Sherry Society: A Quick Interview in the Dark — (Catavino)
Craft Beer Blogs
The wine world – particularly in Europe – has been hit hard by the painful blows struck to the international economy. Producers and sellers have had to deal with increased competition, changes in consumer behavior and deleterious farming factors caused by global warming. As a result, France is overhauling several regulations governing its wine production.
Some of the revisions can be seen as a positive step toward updating the country’s rigid and slightly antiquated rules. For example, in 2009, vin de table wines – the bastard bottlings sitting at the bottom of the French viticultural totem pole – were granted permission to list both vintage and grape variety on their labels. Continue Reading »
For more than two decades, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards has remained a mystery to the public. But not any more. For the first time in its history, Russian River Valley visitors and residents will be allowed to enter Sonoma-Cutrer’s newly renovated tasting room. Guests will also be given the opportunity to tour the winery and see first-hand how its grapes are grown and crafted into renowned Burgundian-style wines. Continue Reading »
While San Francisco has been busy banning products from vending machines, Pennsylvania (of all places) has been trying to find ways to increase their vending machine offerings.
Pennsylvania’s Liquor Control Board recently introduced “wine kiosks” in two Harrisburg grocery stores. In order to purchase wine from the machines, customers must swipe their ID, blow into a breathalyzer, and then look into the security camera. A state employee in Harrisburg then remotely verifies that the buyer isn’t drunk and matches the photo ID. If everything checks out, the customer is approved to buy wine. Continue Reading »
Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard – Inga Keck energising the biodynamic cow manure preparation
England’s first organic wine producer Roy Cook, owner and wine maker at Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard, has made the conscientious decision to take his winery to the next level of sustainability by adopting the biodynamic cultivation method and philosophy. Through the introduction of additional procedures above and beyond the normal organic rules, Cook has become the first producer of biodynamic wines in England’s history. Continue Reading »
In addition to all the fine beverage news we posted on our blog this week, several other noteworthy things happened over the past few days. We have summarized them into a weekly roundup:
Winners of the First Heineken’s Young Scientist Award Were Announced
“The idea of rewarding young researchers is entirely in keeping with the vision and aims of the Foundation.” — Mrs Charlène de Carvalho-Heineken, chairwoman of the Alfred Heineken Fondsen Foundation, which makes the awards possible. “The awards emphasise the relevance of research to society and represent an important addition to the Heineken Prizes, which are among the most prestigious science awards in the world.”
Read the full article.
Continue Reading »
Once upon a time, there was a small spot in Northern Santa Barbara County where locals would go to get illegal moonshine. They referred to the area as “Happy Canyon.” Some 76 years after the end of Prohibition, on Thursday, October 8, 2009, winemakers in that tiny little section of the Santa Ynez Valley won a proposal to have the valley registered as an official AVA: Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara. The new AVA currently consists of 23,941 acres, 492 of which are planted for six vineyards and three wineries. Continue Reading »
Get the Mutineer Newsletter
