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
Webmaster: Bobby Skedsmo, the creator of the Estate of Skedsmo wines
Wine Quotation:
"Wine is one of the most civilizing things in the world and one of the natural things that have been brought to the greater range of enjoyment than any other purely sensory
thing."
Ernest Hemingway, American Author, Outdoor Adventurist and Journalist (1899-1961)
Editor Rusty's Rap:Meritage,
It is the name of wine; some of you may have tasted this Meritage without knowing it. Meritage rhymes with "heritage". Actually, it is made in America from a blend of the classic Bordeaux wine-grape varieties. The winemaking process uses Old World traditions but the finished wine has a wonderful New World character. American winemakers agree some strict guidelines in making Meritage. One example is at least two of the traditional Bordeaux grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) must be used to create a blend of, say, 60% of the major grape and 40% of secondary grapes.
Try one of those great Meritage wines and it will surely be enjoyed with food, family and friends. Cheers!
Wine Making: Plant a Vine Now!
If you have been thinking about planting a vine in your backyard, now is the time to start planting this month of April, or early in May! A vine, be it a stick or already in the soil, has been dormant (sleeping) during this time of year but the vine will soon wake up and start growing roots quickly. Most vines will continue to produce good quality grapes for 40 years or more. So you can enjoy snacking on these grapes or making your own personal wine from these grapes for many years to come! Some nursery stores may have the wine grape vines but they might be sold out fast in this spring time!
Fun Fact:Drunken Birds
It is very common to find drunken birds, can you imagine? how strange. One of the long Google list of the news, even YouTube, comes as follows:
Editor's notes:How in the world did the birds and other animals become drunk? From our own wine? Heck no! When any fruit has fungus, it will ferment into alcohol naturally. Just as we would add yeast (fungi family) to grape juice to start fermenting while wine is being made. With that in mind, I built a birdhouse using wine corks. It's a great Christmas gift. I'm dedicating this Corky Birdhouse to those happily drunken birds in my backyard!
News in the Deaf Community:
Mardi Gras Wine Tasting Party - Over 40 women attended the Mardi Gras Wine Tasting Party hosted by the Phoenix Deaf Women Organization (PDWO) on March 1 at the Anasazi Clubhouse in Phoenix, Arizona. The decors at the clubhouse mirrored the winery/vineyards atmosphere. The room was creatively decorated with several round tables, cards describing the various wines and a bit of Mardi Gras aura. Prior to the presentation, the women with their Mardi Gras masks on paraded around the room before the judges. Sympathies went to the judges because all wore beautiful and unique masks!
Bobby and Francine Skedsmo, both wine experts, gave a most enlightening presentation that included four rounds of wine-tasting. Few learned how to appreciate good wine, drink wine using the three S's-swirl, smell, and sip, and shop smart for wine. Also most fascinating was hearing them explain the process of making wine. They peppered their presentation with some humorous stories and answered many questions from the audience. Also, a blindfolded volunteer was asked to sample two glasses of wine and choose the better of the two. She chose the first one. Was she as well as the audience surprised to learn that both glasses were filled with the same wine. The choice of wine glass could make a difference in the taste. The thinner the rim of the glass is, the better the taste.
Before the night gently concluded, prizes were given to the three winners for the best masks:
Editor's notes: How in the world did the birds and other animals become drunk? From our own wine? Heck no! When any fruit has fungus, it will ferment into alcohol naturally. Just as we would add yeast (fungi family) to grape juice to start fermenting while wine is being made. With that in mind, I built a birdhouse using wine corks. It's a great Christmas gift. I'm dedicating this Corky Birdhouse to those happily drunken birds in my backyard!
