Random Fun Facts - About Wine... and a Few Other Things.

DID YOU KNOW?...

During the first 5 Years of Prohibition California Wine Production increased by 700%? During this time grape producers would make concentrate from their grapes, then sell them in bricks with instructions stating WARNING: “After dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, do not place the liquid in a jug away in the cupboard for twenty days, because then it would turn into wine.

France once had a “cocaine” wine?  That’s right, In 1863, winemaker Vin Mariani mixed 6mL of coca leaves for every ounce of wine.  Apparently this became so popular this winemaker had a lot of fans, including US President McKinley, US President Grant, Queen Victoria and even Pope Leo XIII.  This trend obviously was short-lived… as restrictions on the Coco plant became very strong internationally in the early 1900s.

Step outside after the first storm after a dry spell and it invariably hits you: the sweet, fresh, powerfully evocative smell of fresh rain. Back in 1964, a pair of Australian scientists began the scientific study of rain’s aroma in earnest. They coined the term petrichor to help explain the phenomenon, combining a pair of Greek roots: petra (stone) and ichor (the blood of gods in ancient myth).

The world’s oldest cheese was found around the necks of mummies entombed in Xinjiang in (Northwest China) around 3,500 years ago.  When buried, I suppose they wanted to take something treasured… as we all treasure cheese!  Historians have realized, not only the dairy rich past of the region, but also how treasured this was to the people!

In 1907 French waiters went on strike due to the desire to grow moustaches.

During this time, wages and working conditions were dire.  Restaurant workers were demanded to shave their  faces to reduce the “lower class” look of moustaches (amongst other disputes).  After a 16-day strike, the workers prevailed and were able to maintain higher wages… as well as their coveted facial hair.