Raising a Toast to Dom Perignon, the Benedictine Monk Who Tried to Kill Bubbles in Champagne
Still wines from Champagne were popular even before medieval times. But like every land that marks its drinks with its unique climate and terroir, in Champagne, too, the weather plays pranks with its wines. The temperature of the northern part of the country cools down very fast, putting a sudden halt to the fermentation of the wine as it matures in cellars. Everything stops midway. The clueless brewers of the olden days believed that fermentation was over and would fill up the bottles with wine. They did not know they were setting liquid time bombs in glass bottles. (Economic Times)
Distillery Celebrates Small Business Support That Helps It Thrive
On small business Saturday, the deals offered up at the Kentucky Artisan Distillery are something those who work there said end up directly helping people in their community.
“People that are coming in and going through the bourbon trail, or the craft bourbon trail that we’re on, it is a good way for people to support local economies,” Steve Lose, a KAD tour guide, said.
The company also advertised special promotions and holiday gifts on its Facebook page asking shoppers to support local, independent businesses heading into the holidays. (WAVE News)
Steven Spurrier On His Memoir, Vintage Wines and the Future of the Industry in India
Last week, Steven Spurrier, the British wine expert, was in Mumbai to release his new book, Wine – A Way of Life. Spurrier, who consults with Singapore Airlines on their in-flight offerings is a giant of the wine world, having staged the ‘Judgement of Paris’, which saw California wines come out on top of the French ones that they were pitted against in a blind taste test by French judges. The evening raised the profile of New World wines considerably.
The Brit is someone who has a long association with India; he’s been coming to the country for over ten years. On the day we spoke, he was in Akluj at the Fratelli vineyards, working on M/S the Masi/Spurrier collaboration that has been ongoing since 2015. The wine range brings together Piero Masi the Tuscan winemaker and of course, Spurrier. (Firstpost)
This Day in History: Nov. 25, 1932
The U.S. Senate was poised to legalize 2.75 percent beer. Two-thirds of all Senate members were thought to favor the legalization of 2.75 percent, low-alcohol beer. That number was significant because that meant the Senate could override a presidential veto of the bill. (GoErie/Erie (Pa.) Daily Times)
USA Today: Experts Know How to Address Drinking Problem, But Fixes Are Hard Sell
When health officials wanted to reduce deaths from tobacco, they spread messages about the proven cancer risks, pushed to ban smoking in public places and worked to raise taxes on cigarettes.
Alcohol, which causes 88,000 deaths a year in the United States, is a similarly grave public health concern. But the way forward is less clear. (USA Today)