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- Celebrations
February 6
Feast of St. Amand (d. 679). Monk. Hermit. Abbot. His association with vintners originates from his preaching and teaching in the beer and wine regions of France, Flanders and Germany.
Birth of James Busby. Born in Scotland, Busby was a viticulturist, writer and public servant, known as the “Father of the Australian Wine Industry.” Took first collection of vine stock from Spain and France in the 1830s to Australia. Australian Chardonnay and Shiraz trace their origins to his vine imports.
- Swigs
Chateau China
Wine and prosperity flow along on the same current of joy. A recent Wall Street Journal story by Laura Santini reports that Hong Kong has become an international wine hub, thanks to the growing appreciation of wine and luxury accompanying the new Chinese economy. (Hong Kong is now Sotheby’s leading wine-auction market.) The city has seen an especially large uptick in business because of the elimination of a 40 percent tax on wine imports (it’s 43 percent on the mainland). The preferred bottle to cement and celebrate a business deal? The 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, which sells for roughtly $5,000 in Hong Kong. Although local wine experts suspect a lot of it is counterfeit. 12/5/09.
Billy received his Diploma in 2007 from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust of Great Britain. He also is an International Bordeaux Tutor, certified by the Bordeaux Wine School USA. Billy has worked as an associate for small boutique wine shops in New York City.
February 9, 2009
Nice review of the bio of the widow Clicquot. The nasty reminiscence of her Scrooge-like qualities probably reflected the typical 19th-c French attitude that the bourgeoisie were vile and striving to make money was evil. See Sarah Maza’s terrific book _The Myth of the French Bourgeoisie_.
February 25, 2009
Wawa as a singing attache to Hillary Clinton? that is hilarious. Aldo??? Your secret is out now. BTW, I’ve already had it myself with “no worries” as an ok….And a comparison to Vittorio Emanuel in rome…that is gr…..I thought that was a joke in rome, couldn’t believe my eyes, let alone the idea of a serious tribute to WW (not wa wa) 2 in DC.
On these issues of war, peace, and diplomacy, you are far from the territory of a good malbec……or maybe not?
August 6, 2009
Interesting story about William F. Buckley, Billy. Frankly, I think Pup was simply trying to belittle his son….again. I mean, saying that an $840 gift was too cheap? Sigh. Even Louis XIV–or perhaps even Nancy Reagan–would not have turned the royal nose up at such a gesture. So, when Pup told Christopher that his wine was inadequate, I think he was really saying that his son was inadequate. Fortunately Christopher had 12 bottles of wine in which to drown his sorrows.
August 19, 2009
Julia Child loved a good belt, but she admonished us all, “everything in moderation.” It’s too bad they had to include the blogger in this movie (no offense!). Julia Child was bigger than life (certainly taller) and her life story alone would have made a good film. Anyway, thanks for the info about the tinted gravy juice.
October 17, 2009
I love Aldo’s drawing. I’m sure if she shares her grapes, the bird will eventually fly away.
November 7, 2009
Would Chardonnay Place work better as a movie? TV series? Who would play Stephanie? If it’s a sitcom, I’d vote Jane Krakowski. You should work in a murder.
January 23, 2010
I think the pork bellies at Publican are to die for. And, if you ate enough of them, you probably would.