Page 10 - October 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Leading the Way from Down Under
By Monica Chappell
Maybe you were cheering for Team Oracle USA to navigate back from the brink and hold on to the America’s Cup or perhaps you were ready for Emirates Team New Zealand to take the Cup. Either way, one cannot deny that in addition to racing the Kiwi’s are known for their delicious wines. In fact, Hawkes Bay is making heads turn by leading the red wine revolution in none other than New Zealand, where it ranks as the second largest and the second fastest growing wine-making region in the country (just behind Marlborough, which you may know for stirring up the Sauvignon Blanc scene). In a land where wine-making is on a rapid rise, Hawkes Bay helps lead the way and set a standard that assures a bright future for all who love rich fine wines.
Hawkes Bay Likes to Take New World Liberties
As an up-and-comer, unfettered by the traditions and rules of Old World wine-makers, New Zealand puts freedom first in its wine regulations, and Hawkes Bay wine-makers make the most of this creative license. The Certified Origin system requires simply that 85% of the grapes in the wine come from the region, and that the grape variety and the vintage be listed on the label, leaving plenty of leeway for experimentation. In Hawkes Bay, there are no sub-appellations to complicate labels or limit vineyard selection, and wine-makers are exercising their freedom of choice to finesse long-time favorites and test new ideas.
Diverse climates breed delightful possibility
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Lafayette Motors Independent service and repair for Jaguar
CARLOS “KIKO” CAICEDO Shop (925) 284-4852 Cell (925) 285-0783 lafayettemotors@gmail.com 3470 Golden Gate Way , Lafayette, CA 94549
Lafayette Motors Independent service and repair for Mercedes Benz
JERRY FIGUEROA Shop (925) 284-4852 Cell (510) 754-1942 lafayettemotors@gmail.com
3470 Golden Gate Way , Lafayette, CA 94549 If you’ve ever stopped to give a thought to New Zealand’s climate, “cool” may be the word that comes to mind. In fact, New Zealand serves up a full spectrum of weather, and on the eastern shore of the North Island where Hawkes Bay is found, microclimates range from subtropical in the far north to cool Burgundian temperatures as longitude moves southward. Hawkes Bay also counts high-altitude coastal ranges, flat plains, and a wide mix of fertile and infertile soil in its purview, making for diversity in all but one domain: There’s plenty of sun everywhere you turn. Located in the rain shadow of the North Island’s volcanic mountain center, Hawkes Bay leverages this high-voltage advantage to turn out some of New Zealand’s tastiest red wines – especially Cabernet Sauvignon – thanks to the extra sun-basking time on the vine.
Red Wines
In recent history, New Zealand reds were best known as immature and aggressive due to the cool climes that pervade (but don't define) the country. With selective plantings, improved grape-growing and wine-making practices, and the gifts of Mother Nature, Hawkes Bay has turned the old reputation on its head to produce increasingly rich, ripe, complex reds that happily take their place in the global groove.
White Wines
Chardonnay is a New Zealand favorite that many consider to be the country’s most important varietal, and Hawkes Bay has a major say in the citrusy take on the white wave. The Kiwis are crafting their own style of the European classic, relying on techniques from whole-bunch pressing, which involves pressing the grapes with their stems to create a more viscous juice, to natural yeast fermentation and techniques to bring out the varietal's true flavor. New Zealand’s winemaking scene may be moving at the speed of light, but there’s still time to slow down and smell the wine. Monica Chappell teaches Wine Appreciation classes locally. For a current list of classes, please visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.
Cinema Classics and Musical Notes By Peggy Horn Adam’s Rib
This month’s Cinema Classic entry is Adam’s Rib, from 1949, starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. The script was written with Tracy and Hepburn in mind by their screen-writing friends, Ruth Gordon and Garsin Kanin. To complete the cast, Judy Holiday, David Wayne, and Tom Ewell co-starred, and the movie even featured a song by Cole Porter himself entitled, “Farewell, Amanda.” This movie deals with the issue of the so-called ‘double standard,’ the standards for social behavior applied by society to men differ from those applied to women. Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn play two lawyers, the elegant Mr. and Mrs. Adam and Amanda Bonner. Scene one begins with one Doris Attinger (Judy Holiday) trailing her husband surreptitiously as he makes his way to the apartment of his girlfriend. Shortly after Mr. Attinger arrives at the apartment, so does Doris who removes a gun from her purse and begins firing. This set of circumstances results in Adam Bonner prosecuting Doris for attempted murder, prompting Amanda to seize the opportunity to become Doris’s defense lawyer. The remainder of the film shows the antics between Adam and Amanda as they both struggle to win their respective cases. This is such a funny movie with well-written, witty dialogue which makes it enjoyable to see again and again, even after many previous viewings. And some thought provoking ideas are encased in its comedic script. For example, when Amanda asks her secretary why she thinks standards are different for men and women, the secretary replies, “I don’t make the rules.” Amanda stoutly contradicts her by saying, “Sure you do! We all do!” Adam’s Rib is available for purchase or rental online
Musical Notes
In keeping with the movie Adam’s Rib, the musical entry this month is, “Don’t Fence Me In,” written by Cole Porter and Robert Fletcher. Mr. Porter purchased “Don’t Fence Me In” in a rough, unfinished form from Mr. Fletcher for $250, with the understanding that he would modify and change the song as he wished. Cole Porter added his own music, and although he retained many of Mr. Fletcher’s original lyrics, he rewrote and added to the song and made it his own. When the song was released with Cole Porter as sole author, Mr. Fletcher sued Cole Porter, alleging that the song had been stolen. The judge found that given Mr. Porter’s proven success in the music industry, he had no need to steal anything – Cole Porter reputedly wrote a song a day including lyrics! Nevertheless, the judge added Mr. Fletcher’s name to the authorship of the song to accommodate him on that point. The song has been recorded by Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra, just to name a few, and it is available to you to download and enjoy.
San Ramon Valley Genealogical Meetings
The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10 am the third Tuesday of every month, except August and December, at the Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone ValFlavio Carvalho Law ley Road, Alamo. A Family Law speaker is at every Estate Planning Immigration meeting. Everyone is welcome. 2950 Buskirk Ave, Suite 300, Walnut Creek For information, Two locations to serve you 100 Pine Street, Suite 1250, San Francisco call Ed at (925) 2990881, or visit http:// 415.745.3324 | fc@flaviocarvalholaw.com srvgensoc.org. www.flaviocarvalholaw.com