One of this week’s most frequently shared internet news images is the photo of these two ancient skeletons. Recently unearthed, this young couple is believed to be six thousand years old. In the full story from Reuters, one learns they were discovered in Valdora, a rural Italian town outside Verona, where the world’s most famous star-crossed lovers took their own lives (Romeo and Juliet, in case one needs Cliffsnotes).
Perhaps it is this Shakespearean reference that led most scientists to believe the two are wrapped in a timeless, intimate embrace. Or maybe it’s the fact (as astute reader Denise Sampson pointed out) that their heads form the shape of a heart. Either way, the majority opinion is that these two were young lovers.
Of course, there are those who scoff at this notion, those who believe the two died while at each other’s throat. The cynics. By simply squinching one’s eyes and nudging the pretend-o-meter up to a modest "three", one can easily see the glass of wine that would have been immortalized with these lovers, had it only been worthy of aging a bit longer. Say six millenia or so.
Continue reading ‘The World's Longest Hug – The Lovers of Valdora’
Quickly now… What famous winemaker got into the wine business by accident? What famous winemaker was also tutored by André Tchelistcheff? What famous winemaker has also been dubbed "The Diva of Pinot"? And what famous winemaker has posed nude in a vat of grapes amidst the swirling mist of dry ice?
The answer to each question is the same – Lane Tanner. Today’s blog entry is from a recent 45-minute interview with this colorful persona, as interesting as the wine she makes…
Continue reading ‘Dave Chambers Interviews Winemaker Lane Tanner’
Have you seen the time-lapse video designed by the Dove Self-Esteem Fund? In about 60 seconds it reveals the amount of manipulation required to provide a natural-looking woman with our contemporary version of beauty. If you haven’t seen it, I think you’ll agree it provides 60 seconds-worth of provoking thought (Click Here, then click on the "watch the film" link at the bottom of the page). Though the hair and makeup artists did much of the heavy lifting, the real surprise was the use of Photoshop to add finishing touches of impossible-to-attain glamor.
The video begins with the question "How did our idea of beauty become so distorted?" And as usual, this got me thinking about wine…
Continue reading ‘Supermodel Wines’
Like you, I suspect, I receive a surprising number of jokes via email from friends. The medium simply lends itself to the rapid spread of such content. Often an annoyance, sometimes they turn into an unexpected little grin break. Or to an idea for deeper discussion, such as this one I received from friend and former co-worker, Bryan Bates.
WINE AND WATER EDUCATION
Science tells us that, if we drink 1 liter of tap water each day, in a year’s time we’ve absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia Coli – the bacteria found in feces.
However, we do not run that risk when drinking wine. Wine goes through a fermentation process and e.Coli can not survive amidst the resulting alcohol.
So drink wine not water. That way, when someone accuses you of being full of it, you can prove them wrong!
Funny. But I assure you there are waters that have no trace amounts of e. Coli. And I’m sold on two of them – Acqua Panna and San Pellegrino – as ideal for use when drinking wine. My own taste tests proved these two waters to be the best possible partner for sipping with wine.
Continue reading ‘Wine vs. Water?’
One of this week’s most frequently shared internet news images is the photo of these two ancient skeletons. Recently unearthed, this young couple is believed to be six thousand years old. In the full story from Reuters, one learns they were discovered in Valdora, a rural Italian town outside Verona, where the world’s most famous star-crossed lovers took their own lives (Romeo and Juliet, in case one needs Cliffsnotes).
