Wine around the world

As we move into the Summer months when outdoor entertaining is commonplace, stemless wine glasses are everywhere. These casual tumblers place the wine directly in your hand. Oddly enough, the popularity of stemless wine glasses is recent, with people adopting them wildly over the past few years.

With the launch of the Riedel “O” glass in 2004, stemless wine glasses became elegant. As the story goes, Maximilian Riedel (eleventh generation glassmaker from the Riedel family) lived in a small apartment with little space for tall stems. Many of us urban dwellers can empathize. Hence, he created the shorter, stemless, “O” glasses as a great solution. Max wanted a quality wine glass, that didn’t take up much space. Hence, Riedel created his own version of a high-end stemless wine glass.

These days, stemless wine glasses are a required vessel in all wine lover’s cabinets. When refinement is less important than simplicity, a stemless wine glass is a great solution. If you’re hosting a party with a lot of guests, stemless wine glasses can go directly in the dishwasher without the worry of stem breakage.

So one might ask, why did glasses have stems in the first place? For more serious tastings, the stem of a glass allows one to swirl the wine easily and evenly. It also prevents foggy hand prints which can muck up the look of your glass. Finally, holding a glass at its stem helps maintain the temperature of the wine. When a glass is held at the bowl, your warm hand can heat up the wine over time.

It all comes down to selecting the type of glass that suits your needs. Stemless or stemmed wine glasses is a personal choice and it may depend on the occasion. For summer entertaining, you may prefer stemless. We have a wide variety of stemless wine glasses in all shapes, patterns, and sizes perfect for any occasion. Our new “Fireworks U’s” are popular for July 4th, or try the more tailored Riedel ‘O’ Chardonnay or Riedel ‘O’ Cabernet. Why not stock up your cabinet with an assortment of stemless options? You can even personalize them, so you know which one is yours

Source: http://blog.wineenthusiast.com

Rating: 4

Tasting notes for Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

Source: http://www.kosherwinereview.com/site/rcs2002.html

Region: Modesto, California
Winery: Redwood Creek
Type: White Wine
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Vintage:2004
Price: $10
Buy Now: FinestWine.com

I had another coupon so I picked this one for under $10. I figured it was worth a shot.

A bit of grapefruit, but really not a whole lot on the nose.

The palate brings lime zest, a touch of honey, and a fair amount of white grapefruit.

A lemon-lime finish fades quickly but not before a somewhat astringent unpleasantness takes over.

Probably the worst Pinot Grigio I can recall drinking...still palatable, but there’s no reason to pick this up when there’s so many decent bottles in the same price range.

Source: http://www.winelog.net/wines/wine/25910

Throughout the history of the Church, it is wine that has been understood to represent the blood of the Lord in Communion. This is apparent in both Scripture (Matt. 26:29; 1 Cor. 11:21) and in Church History (see forwarded message: "wine in the confessions"). This is especially evident in Matt. 26:29 when the Lord refers to the "fruit of the vine." The phrase "fruit of the vine" was the consecrated title ascribed to wine in Jewish culture, which distinguished it from typical fruit. This may seen in the "Mishna," a collection of ancient Jewish religious teachings. It is here that we read that wine is to be blessed in a manner that distinguishes it from normal fruit: "How does one recite blessing for fruits? For fruits growing on a tree, one says, 'Who created the fruit of the tree,' Except for wine; For wine, one says, '...Who created the fruit of the vine.'" So, whenever the Lord said "fruit of the vine," He meant wine and only wine.

It was around 1869 that the American church began to substitute grape juice for wine, based upon the teaching of the temperance movement (or "teetotalism") that any consumption of alcohol was inappropriate. Thus, grape juice was marketed as "unfermented wine" and largely replaced wine in many, if not most, Protestant churches. In other words, wine was scrubbed from Communion because it was viewed as evil, in spite of Scriptural (Gen. 27:28; Ps. 104:15-15) and historical testimony to the contrary.

Most Christians now agree that wine is not evil and that the teetotalers went too far in their condemnation of wine. Even so, grape juice is still used in Communion instead of wine in many churches. Should we simply accept this questionable tradition, in spite of its unbiblical roots (Mk. 7:8-9; Col. 2:20-23)? Consider the words of Doug Wilson: "Traditions are at their worst when they grow up and are simply assumed in the bones, with no examination. But sinful human beings always need accountability - and sinful human opinions and traditions are the same. Those who compare themselves with themselves are not wise (2 Cor. 10:12)" ("Reformed Is Not Enough", p. 51).

So the question arises: Why continue the use of grape juice in Communion? It was instituted with wine; the use of wine in Communion has been the historical practice of the Church from the very beginning of the Church; and wine was replaced by grape juice for utterly unbiblical reasons. The burden of proof clearly rests not with the Reformers, but with the liturgical innovators.

There are a few objections that one might raise against moving back to wine exclusivity in Communion, and these are addressed below.

1.) We've always used grape juice; why change now? Answer: The passage of time does not magically make an erroneous practice suddenly acceptable. Error + 140 years = 140 years of error. In other words, substituting grape juice for wine is just as unbiblical today as it was in 1869, and the reasons for doing so remain unchanged. So when we continue the practice of the teetotalers, we are in essence agreeing with them that wine is evil - no matter how vehemently we may deny it. Thus, the Church should be diligent in separating bad traditions from good traditions, as Mr. Wilson implies above, and remove grape juice from the Lord's Table.

2.) Grape juice and wine are similar, so why not use both? Answer: As was stated above, when Scripture speaks of the "fruit of the vine," it means wine and only wine - not unfermented juice. The similarity between wine and grape juice may be of concern to us if wine were not available, but wine is available to us. Why should we use anything else, regardless of how similar it might be? Simply pointing out that both wine and grape juice come from grapes does not prove that they are interchangeable (because they are not), nor does it justify substituting one for the other. 

3.) There is no Scriptural mandate to use wine in Communion. Answer: Neither is there an explicit Scriptural mandate (or command) to use the "fruit of the vine" in the Supper. So, following this line of reasoning, we may use whatever drink we like in Communion, for lack of a Scriptural mandate. Thus, if we're going to argue for the exclusivity of the "fruit of the vine," we must also argue for the exclusivity of wine. If we deny one, we cannot help but lose both. Of course we understand Scripture to teach that the Supper is to be taken with the "fruit of the vine" - which is why we use wine to the exclusion of all other alternatives.

4.) I don't like the taste of wine, and prefer grape juice. Answer: Then drink Welch's to your heart's content - anywhere except at the Lord's Table. Some people like classical, others rock; "I'm a little bit country -- I'm a little bit rock n' roll" as the song goes. We don't take requests during the Lord's Service, nor do we at the Lord's Table. When we come to His Table, to which He has graciously invited us to share in the meal that He has provided, we set aside our personal tastes in order to gratefully receive His blessing, and to stand in unity with our brethren in Christ. Along with this is the obvious truth that personal preference must never be given so much weight that it is permitted to reinterpret Scripture.

5.) Wine distracts me during Communion. Answer: Any number of things about Communion could potentially be construed as a distraction, but this does not mean that we simply remove them. As Paul implies in 1 Cor. 11:33-34, where the Corinthians were certainly distracted by the wine (11:21), it is self-discipline that is needed, as opposed to a change in the Supper. Notice that Paul does not instruct them to replace wine or even to water it down, but to "wait for one another" and "if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home." So the answer is not to change the Supper itself, but to exercise self-discipline and be changed ourselves. In the end, we must admit that the problem lies not in the elements of the Supper - but in our own hearts. Thus, if we are distracted by wine in the Supper, then it is we who need to change.

6.) Wine is evil because it contains alcohol, and should not be used in Communion. Answer: This is unbiblical thinking, which is condemned in Scripture (Mk. 7:8-9; Col. 2:20-23). We are not to set aside the teaching of God's Word in order to humor the ill-conceived traditions of men, which require things of the Church that God Himself does not require. Thus, this line of reasoning must be decisively rejected. 

7.) What about the "weaker brother" and ex-alcoholics? Answer: It is clear from Scripture that the church at Corinth contained what we would call ex-alcoholics (or "drunkards"- 1 Cor. 6:10-11), and the problem also existed in the church at Rome (Rom. 14:21). And yet, we read in 1 Cor.11 that they continued to use wine in the celebration of the Lord's Supper, and this group included those same ex-alcoholics. Scripture does not contradict itself, therefore, there is no biblical precedent for changing what the Lord has instituted in order to accommodate the weaker brother or former "drunkard" (see para. #5 above). Paul, who wrote 1 Cor. 11 as well as Rom. 14, saw no tension between the use of wine in the Supper and honoring the conscience of a weaker brother in situations outside of the Church. For example, if an ex-alcoholic came to your home for dinner, you wouldn't serve him a glass of Merlot with his T-bone. However, when that same ex-alcoholic comes to the Lord's Table, he is to thankfully receive with a clear conscience what the Lord has provided (see also 1 Cor. 10:27-33).

8.) Shouldn't we also use unleavened bread? Answer: While it is true that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper at the celebration of the Passover, it must also be recognized that the Lord’s Supper is a replacement of the Passover meal (among other things, of course). We do not, after all, recline at the table, eat bitter herbs or roasted lamb when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, nor do we eat with staffs in our hands (Ex. 12:8-9, 11). There is both continuity and discontinuity between the Lord’s Supper and the Passover. Second, the Last Supper was precisely that, the Last Supper of the Old Covenant. The symbols used in the Supper of the Kingdom should be appropriate to the Kingdom, and not bound by the symbolism of the old order. Leaven is emphatically a symbol of the permeating influence of the Kingdom and Spirit, and of the maturity and fullness of the New Covenant (Mt. 13:33). It is therefore more appropriate to use leavened than unleavened bread.

(#8 paraphrased from Peter Leithart)

Producer: Abadia Retuerta
Wine: Rivola—Estate Grown Sardon de Duero
Vintage: 2003
Country: Spain
Appellation: Castilla y Leon
Wine Type: Red
Varietal: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon
Grade: B+
Category: Excellent Value
Price: $17
Purchase: FinestWine.com

Abadia Retuerta is an earnest Spanish bodega that makes consistently delicious wine. The winery is in the Castilla y Leon wine region of Spain in the northwestern part along the Duero Rivery Valley. Abadia Retuerta is in a section of the wine region near Vallodolid called, “The Golden Mile” because it is home to the likes of the auspicious Vega Sicilia, Pingus, and Mauro wineries. Abadia Retuerta’s bodega is just outside of the Ribera del Duero D.O. and can quite redo that prestigious region’s boundaries but that just makes them try harder. Their 2003 Rivola from their estate in Sardon de Duero is a blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon that has been aged in oak for one year and shows ample character in its short joven life. This is a medium-big bodied wine that emits ample aromas of cherry fruit and toasted oak to draw your attention. The mouth fills with black cherries, cloves, leathery smoke, and presents sturdy tannins that smooth out in the complex in-out balanced finish. The Rivola will hold just fine for another 2-3 years but is engaging in its present state. There’s good character here and this exotic red should match well with a wide range of food and cuisines. Bueno.

Source: http://nomerlot.com/reviews/red-wine

Crimson is hidden in the corner of a strip mall on Los Gatos Blvd. It's really not a great location but worth the time to find. As soon as you walk in you will know why the restaurant is named Crimson. Inside it is covered head to toe in red decor. My favorite being the beautiful fresh red rose at each table. Crimson is a Green Certified restaurant serving ingredients direct from local farmers. We arrived on Tuesday July 8 for their weekly $30, 3-course prix fixe menu. We had heard about it over a year ago and we finally decided to go. After looking at the menu Mike and I ordered one of everything so we could try it all.

Prix Fixe Menu - July 8, 2008

These both were wonderful. I especially liked the warm sweet figs. I've never had figs prepared like this before.
The Main Courses

Tasty Tip: don't forget to fill out the form that comes with your bill to get on the weekly email list.
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The term "Carbon Footprint" is becoming more common these days.  Basically it refers to recognizing that actions you take produce greenhouse gases, or carbon dioxide 'emissions' that impact the environment.

For example, if you drive X miles to work each day, you will put Y tons of carbon emissions into the air from your driving.  You can calculate an estimate of your carbon footprint on various websites such as CarbonFootprint.com

So, how do you reduce your carbon footprint?  If you're heavy on your car emissions, a potential solution would to be reducing the amount of times you drive - carpool with a colleague or take public transportation to work.  Run errands with a friend and walk whenever you can.  If you're booking a flight, you can purchase offset credits from websites - For approximately $5-10 per every 500 miles, you can offset your flight by putting money towards cleaner energy investments.

What you often don't hear about the tricky pitfalls of calculating your Carbon Footprint.  For example, you want to purchase a bottle of wine.  You go to the liquor store and there's a nice bottle of Merlot from Napa Valley and a nice bottle from France's Bordeaux.  Since I'm on the East coast, it would seem logical that I'd want to purchase something from the US - it's a lot closer than France. But contrary to first instinct, the French wine would be a wiser decision.  The wine from California likely traveled by land - that means heavy trucks with heavy emissions, versus the wine from France which likely came across the Atlantic Ocean with lesser emissions.

Another example of a tricky area involves cars.  For example, hybrids are a great transition to wean off of our gas supply.  However, the hybrid car's gas battery's environmental impact has been questioned.  Is disposing this battery worse for the environment than all the extra emissions of non-hybrid cars?  The debate isn't settled, but this issue poses a challenge to companies trying to become greener.

A variety of situations can be confusing when calculating your carbon footprint. However, don't get discouraged.  These discrepancies will hopefully weaken over time as the lines become less blurry. In the meantime, make an impact where you can.

Saw this bottle of wine with the embossed grape and leaf logo and thought it would make a good prop for a stock photo about wine. Took off the label and placed a wine glass behind the bottle which created the illusion that the glass was in the bottle. Placed a sheet of plexiglass a couple of feet behind the bottle and only used one Arri fresnel shining through the plex and bottle to light the set. Used a Cambo 4x5 view camera with a 6x9cm roll film back to record the image on Fuji tungsten transparency film and then scanned with a Nikon Coolscan 9000 scanner.