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February 3 2006

Good Wine Needs No Bush

Who doesn’t like a good double entendre?

Dating to Shakespeare and the epilogue for As You Like It, Rosalind says, "If it be true that good wine needs no bush, ‘tis true that a good play needs no epilogue. Yet to good wine they use good bushes, and good playes prove the better by the help of a good epilogue."

The proverb means that good wine needs no advertising and goes back to Roman times. According to Endell Fritz in his 1916 book, Old Tavern Signs, in times when only a few people could read, a sign told travelers where goods could be purchased. Ancient tavern signs were a bush or a garland of ivy to indicate drink (wine) and a checkered board for food.

Historians indicate that the wine signs were in the form of ivy or holly wreaths, or a tangle of evergreen branches. Ivy and/or bush likey derived from Bacchus, the God of Wine, who wore a crown of ivy.

Cheers to good bush and good wine.

Posted in, Appellation Watch: Midwest Regional Review. Permalink | Comments (0) | Print | Email This

February 1 2006

Notes on a Cellar-Book

One of the things that I find interesting are old wine books. Not 1970s old, but really old. I think most people that really enjoy some of the more esoteric aspects of wine--like the notion that wine is a living thing in the bottle and that a 1952 vintage might taste different on January 31, 2006 then it would on Feb. 1, 2006, would agree.

So, I’m going to post some public domain wine related books--The American Vine-Dresser by John James Dufour is fitting because Dufour, in my estimation, is woefully under-represented in wine history for his rightful place as the first successful grape-grower and winemaker--circa 1807. The beginning of the preface is in a previous post under the Category of "Kickin’ It Old School."

And, another wine blog has an interesting report on George Saintsbury. I can’t tell if his book is public domain because it was published before 1923, but reprinted in subsequent editions after 1923. My guess is the rights are with a 2nd cousin twice removed in the Saintsbury family.

At any rate, check out this post (called Jot a lot) from Wine Whines for a little more info. on Saintsbury and his Notes on a Cellar-book

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February 1 2006

The American Vine-Dresser’s Guide

The American Vine-Dresser’s Guide by John James Dufour

Preface --Pages 1 - 3

It will be found something like presumption in me, to write a book in a language, to which I am a stranger. All that is to be published now a days, ought to be stamped with perfection: But as I had, and yet have to answer often, verbally and by writing, queries about my avocation, I have attempted to write down, and give to the public at large, the answers to any questions which may be made about the CULTIVATION OF GRAPE-VINES, in the UNITED STATES at once; and have thought I should be better understood, than by letters, often written in a hurry.. The importance of the subject, and the great feel of such a work, will plead for the indulgence of the readers, who I expect will be able to understand it—for pains shall be spared to render it intelligible, especially where it is intended to give the practical or manual part of vine dressing. A little of the history of the in introduction of that precious plant into Europe from Asia, translated from the dictionary of Agriculture of LACE and particularly, in the United States, by our colony cannot be thought improper: Likewise, an outline of the different modes of culture, and of preparatory to establish Vine-yards, followed in different parts of the world, and seen by the author, who, in his repeated travels between Switzerland and the United States avoided purposely to follow the same route, that he might see more vineyard countries, and find out the mode of training and cultivating the vines, that would suit best this country. And would offer the largest produce with the least work and attendance, without regard to the quantity of ground employed, being so plentiful, that: the main object ought not to be, to get a rent for the land, but to obtain the most wine from the least labour; nevertheless:, our vine-yards, by the mode of training adopted, have proved to be as productive by the acre, as the generality of the vine yards in France--as Chaptal says. To obtain what was intended. I found it to be necessary to lay aside the mode of cultivation I had been accustomed to as not suitable for a country where there is too much land, and a lack of people, and invent a new way-for none of those I had seen would suit a new country; it will be found, however in the sequel of the book , where I have seen something nearly similar. As this country, like Lombardy, may and ought to entwine the grape-vine with the mulberry tree and make good silk with our own indigenous mulberries.

I think I shall not intrude on my subject by trying to encourage that branch of rural economy. When I last came from Europe, I purposely travelled through silk countries, to obtain information about it, from the farmers themselves; and what knowledge I have acquired, will make the subject of a good part of a chapter, and I expect it will be an acceptable addition to the work: Likewise, I shall notice briefly something of the quadrennial rotation of culture, adopted as the best by our intelligent agriculturists, and followed in Lombardy among their mulberries and vines, since time immemorial; to show the possibility making good and rich farms out of the poorest land of he Southern States, by imitating Lombardy. That way of cultivation being very little known, hints of its practicalness and enriching character, on both the land and its owner, can never too often be given; besides, it will suit very well any farm on which there is a vine-yard, by the abundant production of manure, so much wanted by vines, On manure I shall go somewhat into detail--for it is the main pillar in good husbandry, especially in vine-yards, about the use of which, I shall differ in opinion with many book-makers, but not with a single practical vine-dresser that I know. I will also try to save the character of our Cape grapes from being made merely wild grapes, because some are now found in the woods; and, to put any one in the way to distinguish wild from tame grapes, I will give the description of the botanical characters of the blossom of both sorts. I shall try also to encourage those who can do it conveniently, to keep sowing grape seeds, to procure some new variety of grapes, which would perhaps answer better than any we have. Raising vines from seed, is the best means we have to obtain varieties. Particulars about that sickness of vines through the United States, which prevent the European grapes from growing welt here, shall be noticed, to excite the attention of the people to it; that the cause may be found, and of course the (remedy) preventive. The history of a curious discovery to make brandy out of water, found out the last year I was in Switzerland, of which I have great reason to believe I was the cause, will, I expect, be acceptable: but more so, of another discovery of my own, in the marketing of wine, of which I can attest, that it is a very valuable thing to any man who has to make wine; and I expect it will prove the same for cider. If the United States …

Posted in, Historical Wine Book Excerpts. Permalink | Comments (0) | Print | Email This

February 1 2006

Survivor meets The Apprentice in the Vineyard

Back in the early 90s, MTV debuted The Real World--unequivocably, the forefather of reality television. I loved The Real World from the jump ... I even applied to the 3rd season--San Francisco. That was the year Puck and Pedro were on there--Puck casting a shadow on the next decade of reality T.V. stars and their pretulant misbehavior cast as some kind of sociopathic genius.

It’s amazing really, how the veneer of television makes really whacked out people seem somehow interesting and sympathetic.

PBS, more known for Food Network cast-off’s, some decent BBC cast-off’s and 4th of July Boston Pops! shows set to fireworks is now set to have its own reality television show--called, creatively enough, The Winemakers.

THE WINE MAKERS is an exciting new television series that takes viewers inside one of the most unique professions in the world. This six-part series follows a diverse group of men and women as they discover what it takes to make it in the fiercely competitive wine industry. Set in the wine country of Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo, six candidates will experience every aspect of wine making from viticulture and enology to sales and marketing. But in the end, only one will be chosen to create and launch their very own wine.

I applied. But, why Paso Robles?

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