TODDCAST EPISODE 100: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

WINE WORD OF THE DAY
 

Greetings Moonstoners and today is a milestone for Moonstone.  It’s our 100th episode!   

And on this day in 1915, 100 years ago, Dodgers Manager, Wilbert Robinson decided to try and catch a baseball dropped from an airplane.  I guess he was bored during spring training.  But the pilot had forgotten the baseball and dropped a grapefruit instead.  Robinson was horrified by the splattered mess and thought he had lost an eye from the acid shrapnel until he “saw” the team laughing hysterically.  From that point on, he referred to airplanes as “fruit flies.” …good thing he managed baseball teams and didn’t write for comedy shows, eh?

And that brings us to our Wine Word of the Day:  Gewurztraminer

Gewurztraminer wines taste like grapefruit, right, Jill?

So, I see what you did there.

Okay, here’s the story I always tell about Gewurztraminer:

Around 1000 AD…

But I thought I would read up again, since DNA testing is always debunking something, and sure enough, there is much confusion about where the grape come from and how it mutated from this or that grape.

The French, Italians, and Germans all seem to have a claim on this grape.

But do you really care, I didn’t think so. Many people don’t give this awesome wine a chance because so many American wineries would make it too sweet. But this wine can stand beautifully on it’s own without any residual sugar. It’s perfumed aromas can remind you of grapefruit, honeysuckle, vanilla, ginger, and lychee.

Speaking of which, too bad the pilot over Dodgers Manager, Wilbert Robinson’s head didn’t drop a lychee fruit out of the plane instead of a grapefruit. Lychee’s are only about 2 inches big, and he probably could have caught that…or at least avoided an injury if he missed the catch.

For transcripts, links and more toddcasts, go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions, historical facts, or explanations as to why a grapefruit is called a grapefruit, because, really, what the heck! There are thousands of varieties of grapes. And they are a fruit. Grapefruit has only been around since 1750. Really?? Grape Grapes have been documented back 5 to 6000 years! So whomever named grapefruit grapefruit, obviously doesn’t know their history, I mean, PLEASE!

But I digress. If you can shed some light on this obviously disturbing issue, please send emails to Jill. Because I’ll probably lose my mind if I dwell on this much longer.

And until next time, Cheers to YOU  

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

Upcoming Anniversary Sale—8  Big Years!

Changes in the Tasting Room

Donation to Marine Mammal Center- over $2500!-Still time to stamp Passports

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS

Glass of wine?  That will be $625.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/executive-style/top-drop/grange-by-the-glass-thatll-be-625-thanks-20150303-13ty77.html

Dude….very tacky.
http://pagesix.com/2015/03/02/booze-salesman-sent-exec-revenge-photos-of-wasted-champagne-strippers/

Dateless on Valentine’s?  Maybe you could stay home.
http://pdx.eater.com/2015/3/3/8145259/woman-sues-restaurant-for-ruining-her-valentines-day

Awww, like father, like son.
http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2015/02/baby-beer-bottle-on-sale/

Is that a bottle of wine in your pants or are you just glad to see me?
http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2015/03/swimwear-sneaks-join-comical-wine-smuggler-brigade

HAMMERED HOROSCOPE Pisces, something has to change. You knew it when you woke up this morning.  Today is the day to start something new.  A diet, a new exercise plan, or maybe you need to quit smoking.  But don’t go crazy.  It’s not the day to eliminate wine from your daily routine.  Get a haircut instead.  You’ll feel better.

ALCOHOL TRIVIA
Prior to erupting, Mount Vesuvius was known for its prolific vineyards.  When it erupted and buried Pompeii in volcanic ash in 79 A.D., it entombed more than 200 wine bars, eight on a single street.

CREDITS

Voice Over Talent – Ellen Dawson and Emmy-Award Winner,  Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)
Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

TODDCAST EPISODE 99: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

WINE WORD OF THE DAY

Greetings Moonstoners, today is February 27th and on this day in 1964, government officials in Italy sought funding to help prop up the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Engineers,mathematicians and historians met to decide how to keep the tower from falling over while retaining the lean.  Decades of improvements followed including a system of counterweights, removing the bell, and shifting the foundation underneath.  They have done a super job, because the tower still stands.

And that brings us to our Wine Word of the Day:  Super Tuscan

Back in the 70’s some winemakers in Tuscany got fed up with the government laws that dictated how to make the region’s most famous wine Chianti.  The rules stated that they must blend in some white grapes with Sangiovese to call it Chianti, otherwise, they would have to just put “Red Table Wine” or Vino da Tavola on their label.

So, some feisty winemakers decide the heck with it anyway. They wanted to create bolder red wines that were more popular overseas, especially in the  United States. So they coined the term Super Tuscan.  And no translation is needed here. That name is meant to be in English.

Super Tuscan can be awesome, big, powerful wines. The only issue is that you don’t always know what is in them. Some can be 100% Sangiovese, or Sangiovese blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and/or other Bordeaux varietals such as Merlot. Syrah also finds it way into Super Tuscans.

But the real question is, what wine were the builders drinking back in 1173, when they started building the Tower of Pisa? A lot of wine must have been drunk before they constructed its foundation. That’s all I’m sayin’

For transcripts links and more Toddcasts go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd. If you have any words, historical facts, or tips on how to keep tourists from taking stupid pictures of themselves trying to push the leaning tower back up right, please send emails to, [email protected]

And until next time cheers to YOU.

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

Club shipments are out

Passport Weekend update

There’s still time to get your passport stamped!

Papagallo-Saturday is sold out!  

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS

A full body buzz?

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cannabis-infused-wine-delivers-a-full-body-buzz-says-melissa-etheridge/

On your mark, get set, sip!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2015/02/18/382657240/a-sophisticated-version-of-guess-the-grape-but-is-it-a-sport

This business has gone to seed.

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.snooth.com/articles/israeli-research-team-gets-byzy-with-ancient-grape-seeds/

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s your dinner.

http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2015/02/restaurant-employs-fleet-of-drone-waiters/

Snap out of it.

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11431992/Love-and-other-scientifically-tested-ways-to-sober-you-up.html

More good news.

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.youthhealthmag.com/articles/10267/20150222/tea-wine-and-citrus-can-lower-ovarian-cancer-risk.htm

HAMMERED HOROSCOPE

Pisces, pull your head out of the water.  We know you love the drama and simplicity makes you crazy.  But sometimes you have to let things be.  You don’t always have to be the one stirring the pot.  If your guest brings you a bottle of cheap wine, open it with a smile and try your best to be cordial.  Don’t spit it across the room shouting “weasel pee!”  It makes everyone uncomfortable.  

ALCOHOL TRIVIA

A popular drink in Cambodia is called Tarantula Brandy.  It consists of a rice-based liquor and yes, freshly killed tarantulas.  I will now be cancelling my vacation plans to Cambodia.  

CREDITS

Voice Over Talent – Ellen Dawson and Emmy-Award Winner,  Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)

Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

TODDCAST EPISODE 98: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

WINE WORD OF THE DAY

Greetings Moonstoners, today is November 7th and on this day in 1980, we lost the “king of cool”, actor Steve McQueen.   McQueen was an Academy Award nominee for his dramatic turn in “The Sand Pebbles” but he was probably most known for his starring role in “The Great Escape”.  He defined “cool” and rebellious in the counter-culture era of the 60’s. He was known for being difficult on a set and yet he was very highly paid.  Other great roles included “The Magnificent Seven”, “The Towering Inferno”, and the “Thomas Crown Affair”.   

And that brings us to our Wine Word of the Day:   Crown Cap

A crown cap is the kind of “top” or closure you’d find on a beer bottle, but is also used during the secondary fermentation when you are making sparkling wine in individual bottles (the Champagne Method).  But in that case, there is a small plastic receptacle attached to the crown cap into which yeast sediment settles during the riddling process.  

And even though it’s not very romantic, you may also find crown capsules on finished sparkling wines, like lower-priced proseccos from Italy. It’s so unromantic in fact, that it is illegal to put a crown cap on a finished bottle of bubbly from the Champagne region itself.

But you want to know what is truly unromantic and downright barbaric, Jill? It’s when someone tries to open a beer bottle with their teeth. A chipped tooth isn’t very attractive and will likely need to be capped with its own crown.

For transcripts, links, and more toddcasts, please go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions for more words, historical facts, or know of any reason why Queen Elizabeth was never seen in a Crown Victoria, please send emails to, [email protected].

Until next time, beers to you!

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

BIRTHDAYS

Rick Auricchio

Lisa Williams

Rose Bedard

Club shipments have gone out.

What’s new at the winery?

Tamar is “Back”

Save the Date!  January 24th– Meet the Winemakers

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS

RIP Merton
http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/comment/obituaries/red-wine-for-breakfast-helped-migraine-research-20141031-11exxj.html

Cancel that gym membership.
http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/a-glass-of-red-wine-worth-an-hour-of-exercise/

See, I didn’t need to workout.  

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/11/03/red-wines-heralded-ingredient-resveratrol-may-actually-hinder-benefits-of-exercise/

My, my, I’ve got the vapors.

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://punchdrink.com/articles/the-weird-world-of-wine-and-spirits-vaping/

Crashing the party!
http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/11/beer-truck-smash-sparks-roadside-party/

HAMMERED HOROSCOPE

Scorpio, it’s best if you stay home this weekend.  Some negative neighbors could put you in a bad mood.  So close the blinds, lock the door and don’t share that fine bottle of wine you’ve been saving.  It’s just for you.  And when the knock comes at the door, just shout, “No more treats here!”

ALCOHOL TRIVIA

Here’s a juicy tidbit. Know how many grapes it takes to make one bottle of wine?  About 600.

CREDITS

Voice Over Talent – Ellen Dawson and Emmy-Award Winner,  Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)

Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

TODDCAST EPISODE 97: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

WINE WORD OF THE DAY

Greetings Moonstoners, today is October 24th and on this day in 1929, the folks on Wall Street took a dark turn.  This was the day of the great Stock Market Crash of 1929, a day known as “Black Thursday”, which ushered in the Great Depression.  Very depressing.  A day when no ones finances were in the black.   Actually, things got worse the following Monday and Tuesday, when the lights truly went out on Wall Street.  

And that brings us to our Wine Word of the Day:  Black Rot

Black rot on vines can also darken a winegrowers mood. This fungal disease originated on the East Coast where the humid environment there creates the perfect conditions for this infection to take hold.  

The disease attacks grapevines at the leaves, shoots, and even the grapes.  What’s worse, is even through a darkest winters, the fungus can come out of dormancy to affect the vines in the following season.

Fortunately, we do not see much Black Rot in the Paso Robles region of California.  The arid climate here doesn’t allow the fungus to grow.

In fact, due to the drought, the climate here is so arid the grapevines can barely grow. And that’s not funny.  Not even black humor can get a laugh around here about that.

Perhaps dry humor would be more appropriate…

For transcripts, links and more Toddcasts, go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd. If you have any suggestions for more words, historical stock crashes or tips on pairing noir wines with blackened fish, please send emails to [email protected].  

And until next time, try not to black out.

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

BIRTHDAYS

Kevin Bettencourt

Jessie Auricchio

New wines for Club

Hospitality Night is Dec. 4th!

Save the Date!  January 24th  Meet the Winemakers

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS

Darn, we only have a Costco.  
http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2014/10/09/where-can-you-buy-168000-bottle-of-wine-sams-club-of-course/?ss=food-drink

Sure, why not.

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/10/why-amare-stoudemire-is-bathing-in-red-wine.htm

Now that’s a golden brown.

http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/10/champagne-and-gold-loaf-breaks-record/

Look what’s come to my window.

http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/10/us-singer-to-launch-cannabis-infused-wine/

Well, this is good news.

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://blog.uvinum.com/moderate-drinking-reduces-risk-aneurysm-2363877

snap, crackle, pop

http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/10/wine-could-protect-against-brittle-bones/

HAMMERED HOROSCOPE

Scorpio, a friend of yours is in need.  If you don’t help out, the karma fairy will come down on you hard.  So don’t complain, just jump in there and do what you can.  Maybe just taking a bottle of wine to your friend will save the day.  Couldn’t hurt.

ALCOHOL TRIVIA

We don’t recommend this excuse for everyone, but in Tampa, Florida, a 34 year old man was arrested for drunk driving due to an officer smelling alcohol on his breath.  But charges were dropped when he explained that what they were smelling was rubbing alcohol and gasoline, due to the fact that the accused is a professional fire-eater.  So lesson learned, don’t breathe fire and drive kids.

CREDITS

Voice Over Talent – Ellen Dawson and Emmy-Award Winner,  Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)

Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

TODDCAST EPISODE 96: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

WINE WORD OF THE DAY

Greetings Moonstoners, today is October 10th and on this day in 1813 Giuseppe Verdi was born.  Or was it the October 9th? Who knows, since I suppose records weren’t kept very well back then in Italy…

Anyway, if you like operas, Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was your guy, as he was one of the greatest operatic composers of the nineteenth century.

If I had to pick a favorite opera it would have to be La traviata because of the song “Libiamo ne' lieti calici”, which means “let’s drink from the joyful cups” (and I do think Verdi means wine, here, Jill).
 

And that brings us to our Wine Word of the Day: Vinho Verde
 

This could be one of our best stretches yet, Jill, since Vinho Verde is a Portuguese wine and has absolutely nothing to do with famed Italian composer, Verdi.
 

But this is what we do.
 

Vinho Verde is not a grape but a region in the far north-west  of Portugal. The name means “green wine” but that really translate into “young wine”. These wines could be white, red, or rose, but they are all suppose to be drunk within a year of bottling.  
 

What is crazy about this region is there are 10’s of thousands of producers of this wine. And most growers train their vines high off the ground– up trees, fences and even telephone poles so that they can grow vegetables for their families below the vines.
 

So, in order to make a little green from green wine, you have to pick it out of the blue sky.

For transcripts, links and more Toddcasts, go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions for more words, historical fact or tips on how I can grow chardonnay vines on utility wires over Main Street in Cambria, please send emails to, [email protected].

And until next time, cheers to you!

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

Birthdays

Oz Barron

Harvest Update

Game Night!
 

Come see our scarecrow, Wally the Water Watcher

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS  

UPS drivers on retainer  (Utah)

Freaky.
http://www.psfk.com/2014/10/levitating-cocktail-machine-drink-droplets-air.html

It’s all in moderation. And No Smoking, not a deterrent for wine drinkers.

http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/50650

AVA’s gone wild.

http://wineindustryinsight.com/?p=56767

HAMMERED HOROSCOPE

Oh, fickle Libra, you are looking for your freedom right now.  Trouble with that is that someone close to you might not understand.  They think you’re leaving for good.  So open one of your best bottles of wine and just remind them that every now and then, you just need a little space to do things on your own.  Then take that bottle to the other room, lock the door behind you and enjoy the rest by yourself.  Just remember the lock on that door works both ways.

ALCOHOL TRIVIA
Corks have not always been the wine closure of choice.  As late as the mid 17th century, French winemakers would soak rags in oil and stuff them into the necks of the bottles.  That’s just nasty.

CREDITS

Voice Over Talent – Ellen Dawson and Emmy-Award Winner,  Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)

Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

TODDCAST EPISODE 95: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

WINE WORD OF THE DAY

Greetings Moonstoners, today is October 3rd.  And on this day in 1974, one of the greatest footballers in history, Pele, retired from Brazillian soccer.  Though past his prime, he was coaxed out of retirement a few years later to play with an American team, the New York Cosmos.  Hailed as a National Hero during his time in Brazil, Pele was the highest paid athlete in the world and one of the most revered.  

And that brings us to our Wine Word of the Day:  Pelure d’oignon     (peh-LEWR dohn-YAWN)

French for “onion skin” which refers to the brownish-orange tint some rosé wines develop as they age. Rose wines have a range of colors from the palest pink to a darker translucent red. For some reason, somewhere on this color scale, the French decided to call this orangish hue “onion skin”.  Fortunately, there are no actual onions in the wine.

I think the official body that names all the colors of Rose wine have finally come to their senses. It looks like they will rename this color “Mango”. I guess “onion skin” no longer makes the cut…and no one is going to cry about that.

For transcripts links and more Toddcasts go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd. If you have any words, historical facts, or wine pairing tips for onion rings please send emails to, [email protected]

And until next time cheers to YOU.

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

BIRTHDAYS 
Joyce Gianera
Randy Cheek
De Jaun Jones
Tom Laycook

Harvest Happenings

Scarecrow Festival-come meet Wally

Game Night!!  Oct. 18th, San Simeon Pines Resort

Save the Date:  Jan 24th, PCWT Winemaker Dinner
 
BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS 
 
Think it through, people.
http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/local/jso-responding-suspicious-package-deerwood/nhNPn/
 
Are those grapes true Texan?
http://cravedfw.com/2014/09/26/is-that-really-a-texas-wine-that-you-are-being-served-at-the-texas-state-fair/

Good news, teens. 
http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/10/red-wine-could-hold-key-to-acne-cure/

 
HAMMERED HOROSCOPES
Libra, you’ve been working so hard lately you might be feeling the strain.  Are your nerves on edge?  Snapping at everyone? That’s not like you.  Time for a hot bubble bath and a cool glass of bubbly.  Treat yourself kindly and those around you will be more at ease as well. 

ALCOHOL TRIVIA
Of course we all know that the Mayflower brought Pilgrims to the New World.  But did you know that prior to that infamous journey, the Mayflower was used to transport alcohol between Spain and England.  It might have been the first “booze cruise.” 

 
CREDITS
Voice Over Talent – Ellen Dawson and Emmy-Award Winner,  Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)
Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

TODDCAST EPISODE 94: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

WINE WORD OF THE DAY

Today is September 19th and on this day in 1995, we lost popcorn mogul Orville Redenbacher.  By the 1970’s Orville had captured over one third of the world popcorn market.  Though his company has been sold multiple times, the corn still bears his name.

And that brings us to our Wine Word of the Day:  Cornas   (kor-NAH)

Cornas is a wine appellation in the Rhone region of France.  Here they produce big, bold Syrahs. Cornas does not cut back or blend the varietal like other regions. They can be dark red, almost black, with intense fruit and heavy with tannins.  Many of the Cornas wines need 5 to 10 years of aging before they are ready to drink.

Personally, I like to drink a Cornas wine in the fall around Thanksgiving. It just seem fitting to serve a Cornas next to a cornucopia.

For transcripts links and more Toddcasts go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd. If you have any words, historical facts, or tongue twisters like: Copious Coppola Sofias beats a cornucopia of cold Coronas in the back of a cornering Corolla, please send emails to, [email protected]

And until next time cheers to YOU.

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

Harvest has begun!

September is Wine Month!

Scarecrow Festival Kickoff  Oct. 2nd

Oct. 18th, it’s our 1st Annual Game Night!  

We’re big in Canada!

http://www.live365.com/

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS

Now, that’s a bran muffin.

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/08/wine-waste-used-to-fortify-baked-goods/

Grand Slam for the rich and famous.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-28/denny-s-goes-upscale-with-300-champagne-brunch-in-nyc.html

Snakes!  ‘Nuf said.

http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/50500    

And don’t walk under the ladder.

http://www.winemag.com/Web-2014/The-10-Strangest-Harvest-Superstitions/index.php/cparticle/2  

Cheap labor is a way out.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/home/2773643-181/inmates-harvest-grapes-in-mendocino

HAMMERED HOROSCOPE

Virgo, you’re feeling sharp and your intuition is heightened now.  You might have recently developed a keener interest in history and historical figures.  So take some time to browse the bookstores to learn more.  There are great books about famous vineyards, notorious winemakers, and wine facts.  Indulge your passion and keep drinking…uh, I mean reading!

ALCOHOL TRIVIA

If you think it’s easy to open a restaurant, consider this:  In Philadelphia, a liquor license will set you back about $35,000.  Turns out that is a bargain compared to getting a liquor license in New Jersey.   In Evesham Township you’ll spend $475,000 and Mount Laurel tops out at $675,000.  You need to sell a lot of liquor to cover that expense!

ASK GRAPE STOMPER TODD

Do you have a Harvest superstition?

CREDITS

Voice Over Talent – Ellen Dawson and Emmy-Award Winner,  Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)

Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

TODDCAST EPISODE 93: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

WINE WORD OF THE DAY

Greetings Moonstoners, today is August 29th.  And summer is pretty much over and we’re getting back on track podcast-wise if harvest doesn’t get in the way!

On this day in 1869, the Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire was officially opened.  This was the first rack railway in the United States.   A rack and pinion railway was designed for steep grade climbing by using a toothed rail and and a cog wheel driven by the locomotive.  It began carrying passengers in 1868, but finally reached the summit in 1869.  It is still in operation today.  

And that brings us to our Wine Word of the Day:   Rack

Well I could go multiple ways here, Jill. We could talk about barrel racks, or racking wands, or the process of racking wine.

I think we can all guess what a barrel rack does, right? It holds the barrels in place and keeps them from rolling around. Barrel racks also allow us to stack the barrels on top of each other. We stack our barrels sometimes six barrels high. And after the recent earthquake in Napa, it gives me more than a little pause when I’m walking underneath them!

But another term in the cellar is “Racking”.  Think of racking as siphoning. Over time, particles or sediment falls to the bottom of the barrels. We call that sediment the “lees”. Well, we don’t want the mucky lees in your wine bottles so periodically we separate wine from the lees by siphoning the clean wine out of the barrels. The wine is sucked out of the barrel by siphoning, or with a pump, or the wine is “pushed” out of a barrel using pressurized gas. All of these techniques are referred to as racking.

The wine goes from the barrel to a stainless steel tank and then the sediment is washed out of the barrels.  The wine is then returned to the freshly cleaned barrels.  The whole process is known as “racking” or “rack and return”. The tool we put in the barrel to help us remove just the wine and not the lees is known as “racking cane” or a “racking wand”. I wish it was a magic wand to make the tedious process happen instantly!

To be honest, I don’t know where the term “rack” or “racking” comes from. I’m stilling wracking my brain to figure that one out!

For transcripts links and more toddcasts go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd. if you have any suggestions for more words, historical facts or tips on which wines you’d pair with a rack of ribs, please send your emails to [email protected].

And until next time, cheers to you

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

Pinedorado Weekend!

Harvest has begun!

October 2nd, Kickoff to the Scarecrow Festival

October 18th, it’s our first annual Game Night!  

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS

This is not good news.

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-24/california-quake-crumples-buildings-as-scores-are-hurt.html

This means war.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russia-s-presidential-staff-buys-a-million-bottles-of-european-wine/505007.html

Gone to seed.

http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/08/ancient-grape-seeds-unearthed-in-chianti/

I promise we’re not doing this.

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-alcohol-delivery-models-underwear-20140813-story.html

Good news for your tummy.

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.academicwino.com/2014/08/red-wine-foodborne-norovirus.html/

Giving you the finger.

http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/08/nail-polish-to-detect-drugged-drinks/

HAMMERED HOROSCOPES

Virgo, it’s clean-up time.  Fortunately you are the most organized of the signs.  And your amazing energy makes projects a breeze.  So tackle that wine cellar and get those bottles in order of date, and then crack open an older vintage while you work. The time will fly by.

ALCOHOL TRIVIA

Oh, the French.  There is one famous vineyard in France, which will remain unnamed, that considers its soil so precious that workers are required to scrape it from their shoes before they leave for the day.

CREDITS

Voice Over Talent – Ellen Dawson and Emmy-Award Winner,  Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)

Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

TODDCAST EPISODE 92: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

WINE WORD OF THE DAY

Greetings Moonstoners, today is August 8th and on this day in 1963, the British woke up to disturbing news.  A large gang of thieves ambushed a Royal Mail train heading to London and made off with over 2.5 million pounds.  This event has been dubbed the Great Train Robbery.   15 robbers were involved, and though almost all were caught and served prison time, most of the money was never recovered.  It was a well-planned heist that involved disabling a railroad crossing at the Bridego Railway Bridge.  Over the years, the robbery has been immortalized in several books, a few British television series, and numerous films.

And that brings us to our Wine Word of the Day:  Crossing

In wine speak, crossing refers to grapes created by breeding two varieties of the same genus.  Crosses are created in an effort to produce a plant with the best traits of its parents, such as disease and pest resistance and better adaptability to environmental conditions.  

These crossings can occur intentionally or naturally. An example is the chance crossing of Cabernet Franc with Sauvignon Blanc to give us one to most enjoyed wines of all time, Cabernet Sauvignon.

If you cross species of grapes like the European vitis vinifera with the American species vitis labrusca, that is known as a “Hybrid” grape.  Chambourcin is a good example of such a popular hybrid grape grown in the United States. That grape was bred to resist fungal infections that are prevalent in humid environments.

In fact, many vines even in Europe can be thought of as hybrids. Especially if you consider most of France’s Bordeaux region is planted on Texas rootstock that is resistant to phylloxera. The growers there graft on their famous Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other European native grapes on to American rootstock to avoid damage from the hungry nematodes.

Not that the French would care to admit that vines from Texas are one secret to their success. That fact still makes them a little “cross”.

For transcripts, links and more Toddcasts, go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions for more words, historical facts, or tips on which summer movies to see, because I’m going to recommend “Miller’s Crossing”, a prohibition-era gangster movie about competing mobs trying to control the liquor business on their turf, please send emails to, [email protected]

And until next time, cheers to you!

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room) 
 

Party cancelled for Aug. 16th
 
Moonstone Cellars coming to Rhode Island soon! 

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS 
 
Sure, why not.
http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/08/deep-fried-alcohol-proves-a-hit/
 
I’m getting better!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/01/us-france-hospital-idUSKBN0G14KD20140801
 
 
 
HAMMERED HOROSCOPES
Leo, someone has been trying to tell you something, but maybe you aren’t listening, which is good because what they are trying to tell you might not be true.  Keep an open ear, but afterward, do some research.  When they tell you that they have found a $4 bottle of wine that’s as good as any $100 bottle of wine, don’t take their word for it, try it for yourself.  But trust us, you will probably want to keep the spit bucket handy.
 
ALCOHOL TRIVIA
Falling under the category of strange laws… in West Virginia, a bar is able to advertise prices for liquor and mixed drinks, but it is unlawful to advertise a brand name.  So I guess you have to order that beer with the Clydesdales or that  (ahem) water from Colorado.

 
CREDITS
Voice Over Talent – Ellen Dawson and Emmy-Award Winner,  Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)
Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

TODDCAST EPISODE 91: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

WINE WORD OF THE DAY

Greetings from the east Moonstoners, today is August 1st, and we have been AWOL for a few weeks.  But we return in time for a bloody day in history.  It seems August 1st has been a pretty deadly day in the past. In 1759, the Battle of Minden was fought as part of the Seven Years War, in 1798 the Battle of the Nile began when the British fleet engaged with the French Revolutionary Navy, and in 1801, The American schooner USS Enterprise captured the Tripoli to begin the first Barbary War.    Then in 1894, the First Sino-Japanese War erupted, and in 1914 Germany declared war on Russia to start World War I.  
Sadly, on August 1st, a lot of blood was shed throughout the years. 

And that brings us to our Wine Word of the Day: saignée  (pronounced Say-NAY)

Saignee is a French term for how rose wine is made, Jill.  I know all that talk of bloodshed in the beginning of this episode may not have made a lot of sense until I tell you this: Saignee is when we “bleed” the juice from the grape skins before the juice gets too dark.

Here’s something we’ve mentioned this a bunch of times here on the world-famous Wine Word of the Day: the red color in wine comes from the skins.  It can take 10 or more days of soaking the skins in the juice to get that deep, dark purple color in red wine that judges love so much.

But what if you want a blush or rose wine?  Well, you just don’t soak the skins in the juice as long!

I’m not sure why winemakers call the early removal of the juice from the skins as “bleeding”. As in, “bleeding off the juice”. It sounds cruel and warlike, but I can assure you most winemakers are fairly mellow and usually pass out before picking a fight.

For transcripts, links and more Toddcasts, go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions for more words, historical links, or tips on I can avoid cutting myself and bleeding during harvest, please send emails to, [email protected]

And until next time, cheers to you!

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room) 
 
-Birthdays
Lisa Johnson
Ken Miller
Shirley Navarro
Suzy Davis-Coleman
John Bryne-his whole family joined the club!

-Road trip
-The Garden Party has been cancelled.
-Work has begun on our scarecrow.

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS 

Finally! 
http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://shipcompliantblog.com/blog/2014/07/11/direct-shipping-to-massachusetts-finally/

Quelle Catastrophe.
http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/07/fine-wine-lost-in-lorry-smash/

Can we import these for Kendra?
http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/07/worlds-first-champagne-ice-lolly-launches/

Sing me a prison song. 
http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/07/bocelli-lends-name-to-jailhouse-wine/

That is one nasty hangover.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2697876/Deadly-fake-wine-flooding-Britains-licences-Laced-bleach-nail-polish-anti-freeze-passed-brands.html

Wine saves the day!
http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/07/wine-bottle-foils-robbery/

HAMMERED HOROSCOPES
Leo, you have finances on your mind.  So go ahead and double check your budget.  It might be time to rethink your spending habits.   I know it’s fun to splurge on a bottle ‘78 Richebourg Grand Cru, but maybe that $20,000 could be spent on something more practical. Otherwise, a second job might be in order.  I hear Costco is hiring, 

 
ALCOHOL TRIVIA
Methyphobia is not what you might think.  Methyphobia is the fear of alcohol. 

 
CREDITS
Voice Over Talent – Ellen Dawson and Emmy-Award Winner,  Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)
Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd