Welcome to the annual Wine/Harvest Fair issue of NorthBay biz magazine. This special issue is one of our favorites. That’s probably not too surprising, as it’s a sentiment that’s long been echoed by both our readers and advertisers. This is the 19th year NorthBay biz has been the official print publication of the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. Beginning on page 73, you’ll find the 2017 Harvest Fair guide and schedule of events to help you navigate your way around the fun. If you’ve never attended or haven’t gone in a while, make sure to attend this year. It’s a guaranteed good time.
As is our habit, this Wine/Harvest Fair issue is filled with fun, facts and fancy meaning you’ll be informed while being entertained. Beginning with a comparative, we invite you to join us in a special look at our two local, but world-famous wine regions to determine which best fits your own personal style. Beyond that, there are stories that explore the impact of weather on wine, a profile on [Dry Creek Vineyard], wine trends and the difficult task of marketing world-class wines to Millennials. These stories, as well as reviews of outstanding wineries in Great Tastes grace the pages of this special issue.
This issue explores both the lighter and more serious sides of growing grapes and making world-class wines right here in our own backyard. So, sit back, relax, pour yourself a glass of your favorite local wine and enjoy this special issue of NorthBay biz. Then go out and enjoy the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.
Since this issue is dedicated to all things wine, I thought it appropriate to share some random facts and trivia that I hope will surprise and inform even our most wine-savvy readers.
Random facts and trivia about wine
• Wine Doesn’t Make You Fat. While beer makes that unaesthetic beer belly, wine doesn’t affect your waistline. In fact, recent studies show that women who routinely drink moderate amounts of alcohol, totaling about one drink per day, carry almost 10 pounds less body fat than women who don’t drink. Experts believe that the calories in alcohol aren’t metabolized in the same way as calories from carbohydrates, fats or protein. So if you want to lose weight, then you should consider having a glass of wine, instead of chocolate pudding for dessert.
• Wine is made in virtually every country in the world.
• Due to a natural chemical balance, grapes will ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, water, or nutrients.
• The average age of a French oak tree harvested for use in creating wine barrels is 170 years.
• 10,000 varieties of wine grapes exist worldwide.
• A “cork-tease” is someone who constantly talks about the wine he or she will open, but never does.
• Ancient Romans believed that seasoning was more important than the main flavor of wine. They often added fermented fish sauce, garlic, lead and absinthe.
• The world’s oldest person attributed her ripe old age (122) to a diet of olive oil, port wine and 1kg of chocolate per week.
• During Prohibition, grape juice mix was sold with this warning: “After dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, do not place the liquid in a jug away in the cupboard for 20 days, because then it would turn into wine.”
• Soy sauce contains 10 times the antioxidants of red wine.
• Staying awake for 17 hours leads to decrease in performance, which equals two glasses of wine.
• The production of wine from grapes started as early as 5000 BC. Most wines don’t improve with age.
• The United States has 905,000 acres of land dedicated to vineyard (90% of them are in California), worldwide numbers are speculated to be around 20 million acres.
• The oldest California winery was built in 1855.
• 90 percent of wine corks come from Portugal.
• The shallow Champagne glass originated with Marie Antoinette. It was first formed from wax molds made of her breasts.
• During World War II, a group of Alpine soldiers who were stranded in mountain snows survived for a month on nothing but a cask of Sherry.
• White wine gets darker as it ages, while red wine gets lighter.
• The pressure in a bottle of Champagne is about 90 pounds per square inch. That’s about three times the pressure in automobile tires.
• The soil of one famous vineyard in France is considered so precious that vineyard workers are required to scrape it from their shoes before they leave each night.
Final thought: Here’s a wine-and-spirit related fact, more in keeping with the normal tone of this column. It’s estimated that the federal government takes in 14 times more in taxes on distilled spirits than producers earn in profits making them. (Wow, 14 times, and that doesn’t include state and local taxes.)
That’s it for now. Enjoy this special issue of NorthBay biz.
