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News about wine making and wine appreciation by our Deaf fellows and friends, news not about people
Editor: Rusty Wales, the vintner of Prince of Wales wines
by the same author! It is the known fact that Mr. Stevenson loved wine but how he became a wine lover remains unknown. Coincidentally, he and his newly-wed wife spent honeymoon in Napa Valley long before Napa became famous for wine. That was in the year of 1880. Interesting!!
  Editor Rusty’s Rap: Rusty's Favorite Wine Books Some of the wine education I got are from books I read. Among the books, my favorite one is: "Windows on the World, Complete Wine Course" by Kevin Zraly It is rather advanced, high-brow. If you prefer a simple, easy-to-read book, here are two more:
"The Everything Wine Book" by Danny May/Andy Sharpe, the Everything Series Try to find one of them in Amazon.com; you may get discounts there!
Wine Making: Great wine grapes do not need additional sugar for starting fermentation.
However, you might need to add sugar to most non-wine grapes such as Concord and Thompson. Some wine makers, professional and amateur alike, would add LOTS of sugar to boost "wine's power" to increase alcohol content pushing to near 20%. This is what we call chaptalizing. See those cheapo wines including Night Train Express, Thunderbird and MD 20/20! That’s how they make "bum wine" or "street wine"! Some states including Washington prohibit those low-end fortified wines.
Fun fact: Remember "Davy Crockett" and "Daniel Boone", the popular TV show from 1954 to 1970? I was saddened by the news of the death of Fess Parker, main actor of these both shows. I have admired him since as a kid I met him in person and he patted me on the back with a warm gesture. Why do I have to mention him here in this Deaf Grapevine? Fess Parker decided to get out of Hollywood and became a major California winemaker. Therefore, I admire him even more! He graciously let Hollywood film the funny popular Academy-awarded movie at his winery. Can you guess which movie? See the last paragraph below.
News in the Deaf Community: Wine Appreciation Workshop & Seafood Dinner will take place again by the popular demand! It will be near Santa Rosa, California on May 15, 2010. We may have a winery tour next day (Sunday May 16) in Sonoma Valley. For more information, email Felix at felix@mcn.org. $25 a seat with wine and dinner ($5 off if you bring a side dish). Email soon to hold a seat. Tarry not, or you may find all seats are taken!
Answers to the Fun facts: It is "Sideways"; however, Hollywood changed the name of the winery, "Frass Canyon Winery" from actual Fess Parker Winery. It is common practice in Hollywood not to advertise any product or retail store in a major-feature movie. Visit Parker’s web site: www.fessparker.com I recommend you visit this fine winery in Santa Ynez Valley (near Santa Barbara) this summer!
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