Editorial Comments:  The USA is the fourth largest wine maker in the world; some of its wine are among the best in quality.  Interesting is the fact that the USA ranks 33rd in consuming (drinking) wine per-capita, nose-diving low in the world's list.  Why is that our country lags or falls behind many civilized countries in wine consumption even though most of those countries do not produce wine as much or as good as our country?  Italy, France and Spain, respectively, produce the three highest volume of wine and yet they drink proportionately of wine they make.  Do USA citizens fail to appreciate their very own product, wine?  One of the plausible explanations is that many people still have the mentality of the "Prohibitionist" (old USA law forbad alcohol beverages in 1920 to 1933).  Today wine consumption is virtually non-existent in most of the Midwest.  The wineries’ sales are found in major cities, mostly in the East and West, almost none in the "heartland".  This author believes that the USA will move up in the world’s list of wine consumption as wine popularity continues to increase in our country.  After all, we have begun to enjoy wine with food; this is what we have discovered in this century, right?

Fun fact:  Did you know that there is a professional Deaf wine maker?  Actually there are two Deaf brothers who run the family business.  Of all places, it is in Italy where their parents have owned the business for many years.  They had originally planned to sell the winery upon finding out their sons were deaf, but the sons persuaded their parents to let them take over the management.  Much to their parents' surprise but no surprise to us the Deaf, the Deaf sons are managing the business with much success!  Their names are Giovanni and Paolo.  You might like to visit their web site, albeit only in Italian version (I tried English version but it didn't work for me). Check the website: Fattoria La Muraglia

Answer to the trivia question from the last issue:  The country producing the most wine is – b) Italy, the largest wine-producing country in the world.  France is second in quantity produced, but its wine is a role model to the world for its quality.

Today's trivia question:  George Washington is known to:

a) oppose any alcoholic beverage [pro-Prohibititonist]
b) pour a bottle of champagne in his daily bath
c) have consumed two quarts of fortified wine (port) everyday in his public life
d) refuse to drink any wine imported from Europe.
     (answer in the next Deaf Grapevine newsletter, July/August ‘07)

Wine Making:  According to WineMaker magazine, one of the fastest growing hobbies since 2000 is home wine making.  It is estimated that over 1 million people in America make wine as a hobby.  You can just buy a starter kit from a wine making store for about $80.  You don't have to stomp on the grapes or need a fancy wine press or have a vineyard but you can buy a package containing wine grape juice, yeast necessary to start fermentation and other essential ingredients.  By 8th week of this simplified wine making, you can bottle your very own wine.  Interested? Check the websites: winexpert.com (for wine juice)  and  baderbrewing.com (for a starter kit).

Wine of the Month:  Hogue, Columbia Valley (WA), Pinot Grigio 2005, $7.30.  Consumer Reports (May 2007) rated it excellent.

Laughter of the Day:

   

Toasting, Deaf Way and Hearing Way

 

 

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Current List of Winemakers' Records