Communion Rite

From  the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer:  Rite 1

Likewise, after supper, he took the cup; and when he had
given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink ye all of this;
for this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for
you, and for many, for the remission of sins. Do this, as oft as
ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.”

 

The wine thief plunged into the bung

Extracting its measure of dark red wine.

The wine flowed  up from the bung

Like blood welling out of the arm

Into the needle that extracted it.

Metaphor or sacrilege?

 

 

Book Review: The Wine Lover’s Daughter, A Memoir

Anne Fadiman, the author of The Wine Lover’s Daughter, A Memoir, is an author in author in her own right.  Her father, Clifton Fadiman,  was “an essayist, critic, editor, and indefatigable anthologist whose encyclopedic knowledge made him a mainstay of “Information Please” and other popular radio programs in the late 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s” according to his obituary in the New York Times.

Through a series of essays, she explores her relationship with her father, using wine as the metaphor for their relationship. Fadiman was a wine connoisseur who had a remarkable wine cellar and wrote the Joy of Wine, with Sam Aaron.   His daughter writes about his love affair with wine, the way most people talk about the grand love(s) of their life.

“But I have to admit that our similarities far outnumbered our differences. we were not only both writers, but both devotees of Vermeer, late bedtimes, anagrams, and doggerel, which we often composed for family celebrations…”

“In the gastronomic realm, the only area of marked disagreement was the one in which I wised we were most similar….” Wine was the area where they disagreed.  Anne thought wine “had too much taste.”  In a later chapter, she meets with Dr. Utermohlen, in Ithaca who offers her a scientific explanation about why wine tastes more different to her than it does to most people.

Although the book deals more with Clifton, than it does with Anne, it is a beautifully written book that explores the complexity of a lower-middle class Jewish man growing up in Brooklyn, who was able to move to Manhattan based upon his intellect and drive.  Although Clifton felt like he did not belong, except through his extensive love and knowledge of wine, his daughter provides many compelling arguments that he did belong in the WASP corridors of prominence and privilege.

 

 

Alms for the Pour

At the Cardinal Point Winery in Afton Virginia,  I saw the sign attached to a half carafe next to the register, “Alms for the Pour”  I thought it was a very clever take on a tips jar.  Usually the message is Tips Make You Sexy or Are You Feeling Tipsy (which might have been a cause for concern in a winery.)

Alms (noun) in historical context, money or food given to poor people (pour people?)

Poor (adjective) – lacking sufficient income to live at a comfortable or normal level in society or worse than normal, expected, or desirable.

Pour (verb) -to cause a liquid to pour in a steady steam from a container by holding the container at an angle or to prepare a drink

If you fail to get sufficient liquid into your glass, you might say “Poor pour, pitiful me.”

 

 

If the wine is of poor quality you may need the spit jar to dispose of the unwanted remainder.  If you use the spit jar too often you are less inclined to leave alms in the tips jar.

Hint–If you are doing a lot of wine tasting, it is recommended that you use the spit jar rather than swallow the wine and increase your chance of getting intoxicated.  Swirl-Sniff-Sip-Swallow normally. Swirl-Sniff-Sip-Spit if tasting in quantity.

What is your favorite tip jar sign?  Join in the conversation and share your favorite beverage tasting experience.  Was it beer, wine, a distillery, or a cidery?  Have you ever been to a water tasting, where they compared tap, with various still or sparkling waters?

 

 

Whining about Wine

In 1965, the Rolling Stones released a song, “I can’t get no satisfaction.”  Some days are just like that–no wine at all, wrong kind of wine, no corkscrew, nothing to chill the wine with, etc.

Wine-Noun, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes.

Wine- Verb, to entertain someone by offering them food and drink

Whine-intransitive verb, to make high pitched or plaintive sound, to complain with or as a whine

“Men are like wine – some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.” – Pope John XXIII

“If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it.” Anthony J. D’angelo

“Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.” –  Francis Bacon

“Wine is sunlight, held together by water.” – Galilieo Galilei

“Don’t let the incidents which take place in life bring you low. And certainly don’t whine. You can be brought low, that’s OK, but don’t be reduced by them. Just say, ‘That’s life.'”–Maya Angelou

“Language is wine upon lips.” – Virginia Woolf

“I maintain that two and two would continue to make four, in spite of the whine of the amateur for three, or the cry of the critic for five.”  — James Whistler

“From wine what sudden friendship springs.” –John Gay

What are your favorite wines or whines?  Join in the conversation and share your take on wining and dining or whining while dining.