Editorial Comments:   “Bottle Shock” – Movie Review

This new movie, a mix of drama and comedy, is about California vs France, based on a true story.  Until 1976, France was regarded as having the reputation for world’s best wine.  No other country even tried to challenge France.  One British wine merchant decided to stage a wine competition.  France's wine slobs wouldn't travel to the USA or even half the way to England for this wine competition and the wine experts would not allow a non-France person to serve as a judge on the panel.  So the wine competition, both red wine and white wine groups, took place in Paris in 1976.  Blind tasting was performed so that none of the judges knew the identity of what was being tasted.

To make the story short, this panel of snobby French wine experts unsuspectingly honored American wines, both red and white, over French ones in a blind taste test.  It shocked the wine world and put Napa Valley on the map.  California wines emerged at an all time high and have stayed that way ever since.  After that, many other countries were so inspired that they participated in world's wine competitions yearly.

I haven't seen this movie myself but I already read the non-fictional book, "Judgment of Paris".  When this movie is open-captioned or the DVD on "Bottle Shock" is released, I’d recommend you watch this humorous, feel-good show.

     
Movie Posters

Movie Scene:  The judge panel of French wine snobs were tasting the best wine . . .
from California, unknowingly to them!

Fun fact:  What should all you wine lovers look for on the third Thursday in November every year (November 20th this year)?  It is Beaujolais Nouveau, only from France, not anywhere else!  It won't be released until that specific date and that is truly the traditional way.  Beaujolias Nouveau is eagerly awaited by the wine world every year and when those bottles arrive, it is a cause for big celebrations.  This red wine is fresh, light, and fruity (strawberry and raspberry).  And inexpensive!  Moreover, it goes well for your Thanksgiving dinner!!  No need for aging, very little tannin if any, and drink it asap.  You go ask your wine merchant about this exciting, most anticipated Beaujolais Nouveau!

A cause for big celebrations!

Wine Making:  One lovely day in the spring time, we the group (Felix Macias, Jr, Bobby and Francine Skedsmo and myself) visited Benessere Vineyards in Napa Valley and had a wonderful personal tour through the vineyard and the winery as well.  Benessere has many French Oak barrels and as a result Benessere wines are delicious!  I'd recommend that you plan to visit that deaf-friendly vineyard.  Thank you, Nan and Chris, for showing us around!

Felix Macias Jr., Rusty, Chris Dearden (winemaker), Nan Brenzel (sales manager) and Francine Lauer-Skedsmo

Answer to the trivia question from the last issue:  Tannin is: c) a preservative coming from grape skins/seeds during fermentation.  When red grapes are crushed, the skin and seeds remain in a fermentation tank along with grape juice and these skins "dye" the juice and make wine so red.  That is the reason why you can taste tannin in red wine, hardly in white wine and also the reason that red wine needs to age for more few years.  Most of us won't like its tannic taste but if we allow red wine to age, it will become mellow.

Today’s trivia question:  A true Beaujolais is usually made from:

a) Bordeaux grapes
b) Gamay grapes
c) Welch’s 100% Juice
d) whichever grapes ripen first.

News in the Deaf World:  The Midwest of America is known for beer drinking.  But, surprisingly, there was a large number of attendees showing up at the wine tasting party at Olathe Club of the Deaf clubhouse in Olathe, Kansas last July!  Charles E. Marsh, Jr. planned this event and invited his old buddies, Rusty Wales and Bobby Skedsmo, to entertain the wine tasting party including the delights of "look, smell and taste" approach to wine tasting.  At the end of the party, an auction began with some exciting wine bottles and sure enough there was high bidding war for every single bottle!  The proceeds of over $500 went to Olathe Deaf Senior Citizens.

Wine Tasting Party - Future Enthusiasts

Charles E. Marsh, Jr. of Olathe, Kansas, the Wine Tasting Party Host

Rusty is promoting for high bidder.

Humor of the Season (submitted by my old friends from Utah, oh yes, they do have fun!):

“New Wine for Seniors”

California vintners in the Napa Valley area, which primarily produce Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio wines, have developed a new hybrid grape that acts as an anti-diuretic.  It is expected to reduce the number of trips older people have to make to the bathroom during the night.

This new wine will be marketed as . . . PINO MORE (Pee No More)