Drinks Are On Me

Follow These Winos on Twitter, 7/13

Dale Cruse — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:45:05 +0000

July 13

Follow These Winos on Twitter, 7/8

Dale Cruse — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:07:12 +0000

July 8

Follow These Winos on Twitter, 6/30

Dale Cruse — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:59:55 +0000

June 30

Follow These Winos on Twitter, 6/28

Dale Cruse — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:20:14 +0000

June 28

Learn The History Of Wine At Boston University

Dale Cruse — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:13:32 +0000

Master of Wine Sandy Block announced he’ll be teaching a History Of Wine course at Boston University in the fall.

Block said, “Understanding wine is impossible without knowing its rich and varied history. This course provides a survey of significant developments in the production, distribution, consumption and cultural uses of grape-based alcoholic beverages in the West. Topics include the role wine has played in the economy and culture of civilizations from the ancient Near East all the way through to its global impact in the 21st Century. We will focus in particular on wine as a religious symbol and a consumer beverage in the modern world.”

Block said the class will meet on Mondays from 6-9pm beginning on September 12. Class will have a makeup meeting on Tuesday, October 13 for the missed Labor Day class. This is a four credit course, and the tuition is $2,800. There are no prerequisites. To register, call 617-353-9852 and leave a message.

Drinks are on me!

Follow These Winos on Twitter, 6/27

Dale Cruse — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:19:17 +0000

June 27

Follow These Winos on Twitter, 6/26

Dale Cruse — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:54:57 +0000

June 26

It Was Only A Matter Of Time

Dale Cruse — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:27:40 +0000

Rock bands don’t often sing wine-related songs.

But Washington state-based band Death Cab For Cutie’s “Grapevine Fires” is a true story that recalls the 2007 wildfires in California that destroyed 1,500 homes, burned 500,000 acres of land, killed nine people, and injured 85 others including at least 61 firefighters. The emotive story reflects the autobiographical lyrics of lead singer Ben ~~Gibbons~~ Gibbard who was caught in the horrific wildfires and witnessed the tragedy firsthand.

The grapevine in the title refers not to literal vines of grapes, but to the Grapevine freeway in California. Shortly after the incident, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported, “Three months after smoke from wildfires carpeted California’s vineyards, some winemakers in the thick of harvest are reporting grapes giving off unusual odors that may be signs of smoke taint.”

Watch this poignant video and check out the lyrics below.

When the wind picked up, the fire spread
And the grapevine seemed left for dead
And the northern sky looked like the end of days
The end of days

The wake-up call to a rented room
Sounded like an alarm of impending doom
To warn us it’s only a matter of time
Before we all burn

We bought some wine and some paper cups
Near your daughter’s school when we picked her up
And drove to a cemetery on a hill
On a hill

And we watched the plumes paint the sky gray
As she laughed and danced through the field of graves
There I knew it would be alright
That everything would be alright
Would be alright

And the news reports on the radio said it was getting worse
As the ocean air fanned the flames
But I couldn’t think of anywhere I would’ve rather been
To watch it all burn away, to burn away
To burn away

The firemen worked in double shifts
With prayers for rain on their lips
And they knew it was only a matter of time