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Welcome To The World Of Wine

Wine is fermented grape juice. It is as old as humans have been thirsty to still their fears, put their minds at peace, stir inspiration, relax and have fun.

The fruit of the vine is universal and more productive than any other. The oldest winery was found in a cave in Armenia dating back to 4100 B.C. Fossils have been found in Egypt, Syria, Iceland, the Marne Valley and Rhineland Germany that indicate that vines grew there long before there was civilization as we know it today.

Archeologists have found remains of presses from the Bronze Age, 3300 to 1200 B.C., and grape skins, pips and stalks have been found that date to the Minoan period, 3500 to 1100 B.C. In 1970, a wine stain was found inside a Persian Amphora dating back to 3500 B.C. found at Godin Tepe, Iran.

Regulations regarding the sale of wines were found in the laws of Hammurabi, king of Babylon, 1790 B.C. They stated that the penalties for selling bad wines, riotous conduct, and overcharging were punishable by loss of a limb or sometimes life!

The Phoenicians, the Greeks, and the Romans realized that wine was a force to be reckoned with to bring a sense of civility among the barbarians.

As the Romans marched across Gaul and through the Rhineland, they shared their wine with natives to allow safe passage and also taught them how to cultivate vines of their own. The Romans were mostly responsible for spreading grapevines throughout Europe.

When Noah disembarked from the ark, one of his first priorities was to plant grape vines. After 40 days and nights in a raucous storm, he must have easily depleted his stash, so those vines would have needed to be planted pronto.

Aristotle left notes in 340 B.C. after drinking “black wine” in Lemnos, Greece that it tasted of oregano and thyme.

In 340 B.C., Pliny the Elder wrote, “In Vino Veritas” (In wine there is truth) in Naturalis Historia.

Timeline 0 – Jesus turns water into wine. John 2:1-12.

The oldest operating winery, Staffelter Hof, was established in 862 A.D. in Kröv, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Ninety percent of its wines are white, mostly Riesling.

In 1000 A.D., Château Goulaine in Loire Valley, France was built.

Family Built From The Notes Up

ELIZABETH SCHWEITZER

... is a wine lover and expert, and is the eighth woman in the world to earn the title of master sommelier, the highest professional qualification in the hospitality industry.

The winery is still operating and is the second-oldest winery in the world. They make Muscadet, Sancerre, Vouvray, Chardonnay and Folle Blanche. In 1336, just before the Black Plague, the Cistercian monks built a walled vineyard monastery named Clos de Vougeot in Burgundy, France.

When the Black Plague arrived in 1400, wine was declared safer to drink than water. Could this still be true today?

Wine has this long and fascinating history. It was and is the reason I became interested and obsessed with it. The wine journey begins with a single bottle and then a single sip.

Until next time, cheers!

LIZ’S WINE PICKS

Save a little: Geyser Peak, since 1880, family-owned, one of the oldest wineries in California. Cabernet Sauvignon: Floral nose with ripe berries. Medium-bodied, fruit-forward, blackberries, licorice, touch of earth and spice, smooth fruity finish. Easy to drink. Less than $20.

Spend a little: Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon, family-owned since 1972. The label represents the three graces: Beauty, Mirth and Elegance. Ripe dark fruit and spice aromas. Full-bodied, elegant with complex spice, cassis, plum, sage, cedar and oak. This wine has dollops of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot for added complexity, and 16 months in French oak barrels. $55.

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing the Bubba System band take the stage with 10 of its closest lifetime members. As I sat and listened it occurred to me how difficult it is to keep a band together over the space of a couple decades.

There are many practical and sensible factors involved in a band’s longevity, but one is a bit less quantifiable. A bit more difficult to describe. It’s a group’s ability to decipher, feel and express a piece of music.

When you are listening and a piece of music swells in volume and then resolves back down to its original level, this is referred to as a crescendo. In written music, this is an instruction left by the composer to signal his intent in the expression of a passage. For many of our favorite bands, these crescendos were created in a group setting in a spontaneous, improvisational and organic manner. Then they become a staple of future renditions.

Often not a word was spoken to discuss its placement. It just seems as if that’s where the music wanted to go. And when several people all instantaneously feel and execute the same dynamic, in time with each other, now we’re cooking with gas.

After realizing this bond, and then forging an alliance around

Ray West

... a professional musician, singer, actor and executive director of the Key West Music Awards, is known to sacrifice his comfort for that of his cat.

it, all we need is a cool name and matching leisure suits. But, akin to a good relationship, there will also be some work ahead. We will need to get to know each other. Learn to communicate, and find our role in the group dynamic. We will need to get to a point where we can take a musical chance that may not work, and know that it will be received with winks and smiles. A place where, when honest criticism leads to defensiveness, an apology is always the remedy, and becoming a better person goes hand in hand with becoming a better band member. When there is an unspoken understanding that what we are doing is bigger and better than those of us who are doing it, now we are ready for backup singers and a horn section.

Paulie Walterson, the Bubba System’s drummer who is known around town for his ability not only to be a melodic metronome, but also for his excellent volume control, described it as a family dynamic.

“You have to have patience and good communication skills,” he said. “There will be problems. Feelings get hurt, egos get bruised and insecurities can raise their heads from time to time. But it’s a family, and someone has to exhibit patience and leadership, add in a little respect and love, issues get resolved and we get back to the fun of making music.”

When asked to elaborate on the bruising of the egos, Walterson said, “Everyone in the group needs the space to be themselves, to feel they are expressing themselves and their art inside of the collective effort. When there is respect for everyone’s part, it makes it such a joy to share the stage with your family.”

CRICKET DESMARAIS www.keysweekly.com