TODDCAST EPISODE 19: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

Hello everybody and today is May 25.

And on this day in 1938, the city of Alicante in Spain is bombed by the Italians during the Spanish Civil War. Over 300 people were killed. Ugly stuff. And why were the Italians bombing them? War is hell, I tell ya.

Well, Alicante is a tourist town now and it is quite nice. Alicante is also a wine region in Spain. They are known for their Garnachas, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir…

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

Alicante Bouschet a wonderful grape. It is one of the few grapes whose juice is naturally red. Almost all other grapes have clear juice. Those grapes must be fermented with the skins to make the wine red.

Some grapes, like Zinfandel, have pretty big berries and thin skins. Therefore it is hard to make a wine with a deep red color from just Zinfandel grapes. So, winemakers will often blend darker wines with Zin to give it more color. Alicante Bouchet is one of those wines.

You might think Alicante Bouschet comes from Alicante, Spain. Nope. That was just a convenient lead in. It actually was developed in France in 1866 by Henri Bouschet when he crossed Petit Bouschet and Grenache. Petit Bouschet was developed by his dad, proving the grape doesn’t fall far from the vine.

Although Alicante Bouschet is mostly used for blending you might occasionally find it bottled as its own varietal. Common flavors you might taste in a bottle of Alicante are cherry and plum.

But if you don’t like Alicante Bouschet, that’s okay. It’s a thick-skinned grape so it can take criticism well.

For transcripts, links and more podcasts go to moonstones.com/wwd. If you have any suggestions for more words or historical war inquiries like, how many cases of Alicante Bouschet would you have to trebuchet, the Italian’s way, to stop them from using their bombays, please send email to wwd@moonstonecellars.com.

And until next time, cheers to you.

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

Papagallo Party Wrap-Up

Club Shipment Time is coming up!  Make your selections now!

MOONSTONE CELLARS CLUB ANNIVERSARIES

Bobby Ward                          6 yrs
Mike & Linda Finley             5 yrs
Mike & Judy Green              5 yrs
Mark Hedger                        5 yrs
Bob Kasper                            5 yrs
Bonnie Little                         5 yrs
Teresa Rice                           5 yrs
Tippy Sheppard                  5 yrs
Hali Sherman                        5 yrs
Dana Spychalla                    5 yrs
Gary Floyd                             5 yrs
Sheryl Powell                        5 yrs
Roy Hammond                      4 yrs
Judy Schuster                       4 yrs
Jim Stroud                             4 yrs
Marc Blair                              4 yrs
Ruth Capelle                         4 yrs

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS

Pennsylvania may soon open its doors to the wine trade.
See full Story

Maybe I read this story before, I can’t remember.
See full Story

A winery that is truly going to the dogs.
See full Story

“I’m not drinking the f@%*ing Merlot” onstage.
See full Story

CREDITS
Voice Over Talent – Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)
Show Posting and Tagging – Robert Widmer
Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

That’s right I was in New England last week and didn’t have a chance to do a Toddcast with Jill.  I do ramble-on in the audio about what I was doing out there. And I give you a couple of historical tidbits on what happened there on this day.

The best part of the trip was spending time with old friends.  And when I say friends, I’m talking about people whose generosity knows no bounds!

Here’s a link to the boat discussed in the podcast: http://iso-100.com/morgan382/gallery/

Next week will be better. I promise!

Thanks for downloading and cheers to you!

Grape Stomper Todd

Hello everybody and today is May 11.

How many surrealists does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Fish!

I’m reminded of that riddle because do you know whose birthday it is?  That’s right, Salvadore Dali’s.

And that brings us to today’s Wine Word of the Day: Isinglass

Okay, this may get a little surreal for you but, Isinglass is (and I’m quoting Wikipeadia again so you don’t think I’m a freak, like Dali), “is a substance obtained from the dried swim bladders of fish. It is a form of collagen used mainly for the clarification of wine and beer.”

Lovely, huh?

We’ve never used isinglass in Moonstone Cellar’s wine, mind you, but many wineries do in order to make their white wines sparkle.

And before you get too grossed out, the isinglass is left behind in the wine making process so it rarely finds its way into a bottle of wine.  However, that still doesn’t sit too well with vegans who don’t appreciate animals being used in their food and beverages.

So, I guess they won’t be pairing their clarified white wine with chicken or FISH then, eh?

For transcripts, links and more podcasts please go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions for more words, historical facts, or tips on how to keep my stopwatch from melting, please send emails to wwd@moonstonecellars.com

And until next time, Hellooooo Dali.

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

MOONSTONE CELLARS CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
Gail Ortenberger                 6 years–off to Africa
Kim & Rob Maston             6 years–opening a new steakhouse
Rick & Amy Auricchio     6 years
Christine Bellwood            6 years
John Hawkins                      5 years
Shari Long                            5 years
Julie Maloney                     5 years

MMM WINNERS
- Steve:  Winner!
- Rick & Ellen: “Honorable” mentions
This week’s answer: “A Bottle of Wine and Patsy Cline”, recorded by K.D. Lang

BIRTHDAYS
Tarik Tihan

UPCOMING EVENTS
Papagallo cruise is filling up.  Saturday is sold out!  But spaces are available for Friday!
May 18th and 19th, come sail with us!

TODD’S A WINNER
Finger Lakes- Cab & Cab Franc-Silver, Slabtown-Bronze
Taster’s Guild -Cab-Gold, Cab Franc-Silver
Pacific Rim-Cab-Gold, Cab Franc, Slabtown-Silver

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS

Chinese investors are way richer.
See full Story

How sweet it is?
See full Story

A breath spray doesn’t cover up the smell of alcohol, it actually makes you drunk!
See full Story

Red wine as a cancer treatment?
See full Story

ASK GRAPE STOMPER TODD
Torrie & Channing came in, Torrie works at South Coast Winery

“Why would you ferment in stainless steel instead of oak?”

CREDITS
Voice Over Talent – Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)
Show Posting and Tagging – Robert Widmer
Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

Hello, Hello, Hello everybody and today is May 4th.

On this day in 1975, we lost one of the greatest dramatic actors of our generation, Moe Howard of the Three Stooges.   Along with Larry Fine and brother Curly..and/or Shemp depending on what years you were watching…the Three Stooges delighted audiences with their slapstick comedy …which kind of bordered on violence.

Those wild and crazy antics, led by Moe, brings us to our Wine Word of the Day:  Mourvedre

Mourvedre is a wild, gamey grape known for its dark, rich flavors.  Used often in Rhone style blends, Mourvedre has grown in popularity for its high alcohol content.  It has been widely documented  (ok, by Wikipedia) that the best Mourvedre grapes grown in the U.S. are grown right here in Paso Robles.

Hmmm, I wonder which local winery stacked Wikipedia in favor of Paso Mourvedre?  I think you, my dear listeners, should start making more contributions to Wikipedia, too.  You could say Paso Robles is also has the best grapes for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Viognier, Albarino…well, you get the idea.

For transcripts, links and more podcasts go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions for more words, historical facts, or tips like how we could prevent another Three Stooges sequel, please send emails to wwd@moonstonecellars.com.

And until next time, cheers to you.nyuck, nyuck, nyuck…

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

MOONSTONE CELLARS CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
John Turner                6 years
Armando Alvarez      5 years
Steve & Karla Hicks   5 years
Stanley Keiser             5 years
Elizabeth Miller          5 years
Wes & Kate Unruh      5 years

THIS WEEK’S MOONSTONE’S MUSIC MONDAYS WINNERS
- Ron
- Kathy
The song was “Gotta Have You”, by The Weepies.  The song lyric was “No amount of wine.”

BIRTHDAYS
Carl Carnahan–came in to celebrate!
Cyndi Egold
Susan Wan-Ross
Mike Whitmer
Peter Zobian

UPCOMING EVENTS
Papagallo cruise is filling up.  Saturday is sold out!  But spaces are available for Friday!
May 18th and 19th, come sail with us!

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS

Research indicates that young adults are drinking wine.  Staggering?
See full Story

Brad Pitt tapped to star in wine flick.
See full Story

Now that Todd is setting sail for bigger waters…
See full Story

A lot of money goes into vineyards, but surely it doesn’t take this much.
See full Story

Please, please Mr. Postman
See full Story

Really? Costco thinks wine is no different than toilet paper.
See full Story

ASK GRAPE STOMPER TODD
2 questions from Adam and Adryn:
What is the history behind the name of Viognier?
Do you wash your feet before stomping the grapes?

CREDITS
Voice Over Talent – Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)
Show Posting and Tagging – Robert Widmer
Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

Hello everyone and today is April 27.  But just to mix things up (because I’m often all mixed up), today’s Wine Word of the Day is actually yesterday, April 26th.  (Boy how time flies!)

So, On this day in 1946, Jim White passed away.  Jim was a cowboy, park ranger, explorer, and guano miner (and you thought you had a bad job).  While it might not be a household name, Jim White was certainly known in underground circles.  In fact, he discovered what is now known as Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico.

Which brings us to our Wine Word of the Day:  Caves

Wine caves have been around almost as long as grapes have been grown, but they seem to be popping up more and more lately.  Well, I guess a cave doesn’t really “pop UP.”  It takes a lot to construct these massive underground facilities.  You’ll need more than just a shovel (in fact, it costs about $150,000 to engineer an entrance to a cave, and by law, there has to be two entries in case of a collapse).  At some of the larger vineyards, these caves not only store wine barrels, but have been rigged out with full kitchens, ballrooms, private tasting rooms, classrooms, and blimp hangers (seriously, you know it’s just a matter of time before Gallo or Charles Shaw has a dirigible for airborne marketing).

But storing wine underground offers big perks to winemakers. Caves are energy efficient, providing high humidity as well as cooler temperatures, which is precisely what wine needs to prevent evaporation and for proper aging.  Plus, a vintner doesn’t have to use up valuable land building a big storage facility that would need heating, air and water.  He can simply burrow under the vineyards and make the most of his property.

I had considered building a wine cave under our tasting room, but I am afraid the landlord did not care for my plan.  Very similar to my wife not agreeing to my plans for a man cave, in my basement at home.  She loved the idea at first, but I should have stopped at a pool table and TV.  Once I mentioned the keg and a stripper pole, my man cave was a no-go.

For transcripts, links and more podcasts, check out moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions for more words, historical facts or tips on how I can dig myself out of the big hole I’ve dug for myself, please send emails to, wwd@moonstonecellars.com.

And until next time, cheers to you!

TODDCAST EPISODE 16: SHOW NOTES:

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

BIRTHDAYS
Michelle Davis

NEW CLUB MEMBERS
Bruce Thinger
Greg Sellers
Tiim & Karisa Bennett

CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
Krystina Kubran,  5 years
Mike & Joan Trebing,  5 years
Carl Carnahan,  4 years
Ashley Gracey,  4 years (needs to pickup Feb. shipment)
Bill & Linda Murray,  4 years (needs to pickup Feb. shipment)
Karen DeDea,  3 years
Julie Kaufman,  3 years
Zaragozas,  3 years

SPECIAL VISITORS
Joanne & Davon Quon—Tina’s friends came in to visit
Heather and Curtis Bennett: Cribbage Tournament!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Spaces for Papagallo on Friday, May 18,  Saturday is sold out (waiting list only)

MMM Winners
Brenda and Kathy in a coin-toss against Ron,

Wine for PAWS–we raised about $400, can still buy dog stoppers and proceeds go to Woods

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS
Them’s fightin words!
See full Story

A study in the UK finds that alcohol ads don’t influence consumption, but does inspire loyalty.
See full Story

Meanwhile in Australia, a study shows ads targeted to teens have an impact
See full Story

Red wine cuts the fat.  It bears repeating.
See full Story

ASK GRAPE STOMPER TODD
“How many gallons of water required to irrigate an acre of vines?”

Don’t forget to play Moonstone Music Mondays! Every Monday from 11am until Tuesday at 11am

CREDITS
Voice Over Talent – Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)
Show Posting and Tagging – Robert Widmer
Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

Hello everybody and today is April 20th.  That’s right you hipsters, it’s 4-20. And for those not so hip, “420” is a drug-lingo for smoking marijuana.

There’s a lot of lore surrounding how this number became associated with the ingestion of cannabis sativa, but it’s mostly wrong.  You can go to snopes.com to get the whole story, but it comes down to a bunch of innocent, pot-somking teenagers in San Rafel, CA  looking for an abandoned marijuana crop. They would meet everyday at 4:20 pm at the Louis Pasteur statue just outside their school to either look for the pot or just smoke some.

That brings us to our Wine Word of the Day: Bud Break

Bud break is arguably the beginning of the grape growing season.  Depending on the vines and the location of the vineyard, bud break occurs throughout spring.  These buds are the first leaves on the previously dormant vine that eventually turn into shoots. The shoots then grow rapidly (as fast as an inch a day).  It’s from these shoots the grapes will hang.

I spoke with one of our growers today who said our Viognier had just budded-out. The only concern now is whether a frost will occur sometime over the next three weeks.  Buds are very sensitive to cold and a freeze could kill the future growth of the shoots.  It happened last year to that vineyard, and they lost 95% of their crop.

In other words, if anybody needed an “herbal remedy” last year, it was our viognier grower!

For medicinal scripts, links, and more potcasts go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions for more words, historical facts, or tips on smoking spliffs down to the last whiff without roach clips please don’t send them them to wwd@moonstonecellars.com.  Cause that stuff is against the law…well, sort of, in California.

And until next time, cheers to you.

CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
Deb Denney   4 yrs
Larry Dumas   4 yrs
Dr. Robert Fielden    4 yrs
Brian & Donna Haney  5 yrs
Nancy Johnson 5 yrs
Cheryl Seay   5 yrs
Josh Stambaugh   6 yrs

UPCOMING EVENTS
WRAP UP Wine for Paws weekend.

A couple of spaces left for the May 18 & 19 for the Wine Fest Papagallo cruises.

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS
A little weed with your wine?
See full Story

What would you pay?
See full Story

Drinking on the job?  You’re probably an ad man
See full Story

HEALTH NEWS

Fattening cocktails?
See full Story

But to stay healthy, check this
See full Story

CREDITS
Voice Over Talent – Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)
Show Posting and Tagging – Robert Widmer
Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

Hello everybody and today is April, Friday the 13th.  And on this day in 1970, NASA got this message from space: “Houston, we’ve had a problem.”

That’s right an oxygen tank exploded on the service module on Apollo 13 on it’s way to the moon.  It turns out you can’t call AAA when your vehicle breaks down 200,000 miles away from home.

Who knew?

Well, the astronauts and the ground crew used their big brains to get out of a big jam and four days later Apollo 13 returned to earth in a big relief for all those watching the big drama live on TV.

You can re-live the ordeal of Apollo 13 by watching the Academy Awarding Winning movie (Best Picture) by the same name.

That brings us to today’s Wine Word of the Day: Oxygen

Just as in space, oxygen can be a friend or foe to wine.

Okay, a doctoral thesis can be written on the complex relationship between oxygen and wine so I’m going to keep it light here.

Wine has a life cycle and oxygen plays a role at every stage. For instance, some oxygen is good in the beginning when wine is fermenting.  The oxygen helps the yeast stay healthy so they can convert the grape sugar to alcohol. In fact, if there is not enough oxygen, the wine could end up smelling like rotten eggs.

During aging though, white wines are protected from oxygen while red wines in barrels benefit from small doses of oxygen to help soften their tannins.

Oxygen becomes a bad thing in the bottle because too much can ruin the wine.  But when you pour wine into your glass, you’re encouraged to oxygenate it by swirling it around to open it up so it can release its aromas.  Then again, if you leave the bottle open too long before drinking it…yep, you guessed it, the oxygen will ruin it.

I guess all I can say, is that when it comes to managing oxygen in wine making, it’s best to “air” on the side of caution!

For transcripts links and more podcasts go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions for more words or historical facts for anything that happened back in ‘02 (02, lol), please send emails to wwd@moonstonecellars.com.

And until next time,
Cheers to you!

TODDCAST EPISODE 14: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

MOONSTONE CELLARS ANNIVERSARY
Tracy Vining-6 years
William Van Die- 5 years
Steve & Mary Swope- 5 years

MMM WINNERS
- Ron
- Kathy

BIRTHDAYS
Taniya Barrows
Jill’s birthday was last Monday!

Club members should add their birthday to their account!
Hello to the Canevas who came in from Oregon.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Wine for Paws
Papagallo cruise is filling up.  May 18th and 19th, come sail with us!

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS
Indian tribes in Sonoma are getting into the wine business.
See full Story

Need to sharpen your creativity?  Have a drink.
See full Story

Conspicuous consumption? Let’s discuss.
See full Story

ASK GRAPE STOMPER TODD

“Why are we seeing such high alcohol content in wine?”

Don’t forget to play Moonstone Music Mondays!

CREDITS
Voice Over Talent – Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)
Show Posting and Tagging – Robert Widmer
Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

WINE WORD OF THE DAY

Hello everybody and today is April 6th. A lot of people say history is dry, right?  Well it’s true.

On this day in 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the original church of the Latter Day Saint movement, is organized by Joseph Smith, Jr. and others at Fayette or Manchester, New York.

And remarkably, 30 years later on this very day in 1860, The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints—is organized by Joseph Smith III and others at Amboy, Illinois

Yup, those churches and their crazy schemes…uh, I mean, schisms.  In fact, the LDS can be as competitive as the NBA.  And speaking of New York and Illinois, the Nicks and the Bulls play this Sunday and Tuesday.  The Bulls should finish strong, Jill, but the Nicks are struggling to make the playoffs.  Bibles and Basketball at the same place at the same time…it’s Linsanity, I say!!

But I digress.

So, all this Latter Day talk today brings us to our Wine Word of the Day: Non-Alcoholic Wine.

Yup there really is such a thing, but if I know our listeners, they probably want nothing to do with it.  I’m gonna tell them about it anyway.

What’s the difference between non-alcoholic wine and grape juice? With non-alcoholic wine winemakers actually go through the trouble of making a real wine, then they remove the alcohol.

How do they do that?  In the worst case scenario they heat up the wine to evaporate the alcohol out of it.  The result is a horrible version of a baked Welch’s juice without the sugar.

A somewhat better process: they put the wine in a vacuum (slightly bigger than a Hoover or an Oreck), so the evaporation of alcohol  can happen at lower temperatures (but the wine still gets cooked).

In the best case scenario, they use reverse osmosis.  The water and alcohol is filtered from the wine, the alcohol is cooked off from the water, then the water is added back into the syrupy slime.

What you notice when you drink non-alcoholic wine is that it doesn’t have the same texture or mouthfeel of regular wine.  Non-alcoholic wine tastes thin or watery.  In fact most producers of non-alcoholic wine add about 2.5% sugar to the solution as a thickener.

So why would anyone drink a non alcoholic wine?  Because every party has a pooper.  No.  Well, it could be for weight loss (non-alcoholic wine has a ¼ the calories), the drinker may be pregnant (or is trying to prevent a pregnancy), and in the case of a Latter Day Saint, it may be for religious purposes.

I keep it around the house.  If you get too drunk at my place, you’ll be drinking my finest wineless wine.

For transcripts links and more podcasts please go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions for more words, historical facts or tips on what wine Mitt Romney should serve at formal State dinners at the White House should he become President please send emails to: wwd@moonstonecellars.com.

And until next time, if you are not allowed to drink wine, Near Beers to you!

TODDCAST EPISODE 13: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

MMM WINNERS
- Doug
- Linda

MOONSTONE CELLARS ANNIVERSARY
The Andersons brought us a gift…wall hanging.
The Auricchios—brought us wine for our anniversary

BIRTHDAYS
Dennis Ortenberger   3/31
Deanna Voelker  3/29
Pat Connolly

UPCOMING EVENTS
Wine for Paws
Cambria’s Chili Cook-Off and Car Show  April 21.  Pinedorado grounds.
Papagallo cruise is filling up.

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS

The ultimate “Dive Bar!” It’s a long way to go to skip out on a bar tab!
See full Story

My, you look nice after a few drinks.
See full Story

And after a few more, I feel pretty good myself.  A new study reveals why.
See full Story

For the first time in 20 years, strawberries beat out grapes in SLO County.
See full Story

THIS WEEK’S HEALTH NEWS

Which is better?  Aspirin, chocolate or wine?
See full story

Moderation, moderation, moderation.  It’s all good.
See full Story

Can a compound in red wine block fat cells from growing?  Let’s hope so.
See full Story
Can a compound in red wine block fat cells from growing?  Let’s hope so.

ASK GRAPE STOMPER TODD

CREDITS
Voice Over Talent – Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)
Show Posting and Tagging – Robert Widmer
Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd
Music – JIll Knight

WINE WORD OF THE DAY
Hello everybody and today is March 30th.

And on this day in 1853, the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh was born.  And if I remember right, I was told in my art appreciation class that he was pretty good.  But this “supposedly good” painter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 37.  And during his lifetime it is said he only sold one of his works.  Hmmmm, what a loser.  And the painting he sold was called, “The Red Vineyard.”

And that brings us to today’s Wine Word of the Day: Leaf Roll Virus

Why, because one of the hallmarks of Leaf Roll Virus in the vineyard  is red leaves. In fact, another name for Leaf Roll Virus is “Red Leaf Disease.”

Leaves will certainly turn red during the autumn, when all the leaves on the vines turn fiery with yellow, orange, and red hues. But with leaf roll virus, it’s different.  Usually only the bottom leaves turn red…and guess what?  Yup, they roll up…or should I say, they actually roll downward.

Vines with the virus tend to grow slower, have smaller bunches, and begin producing fruit later the following year.  Red leaf is a devastating disease that will certainly make a grower blue.

Van Gogh’s painting is probably of a vineyard during the Fall and not of a vineyard suffering from Leaf Roll Disease.  It’s hard to say when he saw that vineyard since he painted it from memory.  The serenity of the grapes being harvested with the autumn sun setting obviously left an Impression on him!

For transcripts, links and more podcasts, please go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions for more words or  historically bad jokes like:

A man walks into a winery and sees Vincent Van Gogh standing at the bar. The man says “I love your paintings, can I buy you a glass of wine?” Vincent replies, “No thanks I’ve got one ear.” Please send emails to, wwd@moonstonecellars.com.

And until next time, ears to you!

SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

BIRTHDAYS
Ilamae Clifford
David Reed
Amy Auricchio
Ilene Frankel

New Businesses in Town!
New frozen yogurt right next door
Cambria Beer Co across the street

CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
J. T Teutimez (6 years–our first club member!)
Brandon Fowler (6 years)
Elaine Beckham  (5 years)

FINGER LAKES WINE COMPETITION:  Our Cabernet, Slabtown Chardonnay and Cab Franc won medals!

WINE NEWS

See full Story
We debate the issue regarding allowing children to try wine and alcohol before they are legal age.

See full Story
Perfumes that smell like wine??   Why not dab the real thing?

See full Story
Losing sleep over your alcoholconsumption?  Might be the alcohol.

HEALTH NEWS

See full Story
A study shows wine, fish and coffee might slow the progression of MS.

See full Story
Moderate drinking in men tends to reduce risk of heart attack, and heart attack survivors cut risk of death.

See full Story
Looking to cut calories?  Wine beats beer, beer beats mixed drinks.

ASK GRAPE STOMPER TODD
Marcus Reinkensmeyer asks “What’s the difference between Cabernet and Cab Franc?”

And Tina Masiak asks “What is bottle shock?”

MMM WINNERS
- Ron
- Andrea

CREDITS
Voice Over Talent – Andrew Dawson
Show Posting and Tagging – Robert Widmer
Utter Nonsense – Jill, Al, and Todd

Wine Word of the Day

Hello Everybody and today is March 23rd.  And on this day in 1951, Ron Jaworski was born.  You may know him as a commentator on TV’s Monday Night Football.  Jaworski was a NFL quarterback for 17 years back in the 70’s and 80’s.  When playing college football, his nicknames were the “Polish Rife” and the “Polish Cannon”.

Before going to the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1981, he received a new nickname. That nickname brings us to today’s Wine Word of the Day: Jaws

Jaws are used by wine tasting aficionados in two ways: One, they use their jaws to open their mouths so they can taste the wine, and two, they then use their jaws to push out an endless stream of words meant to demonstrate how much they know about wine.

Oh, right, and “jaws” are the part of the corking machine.  When bottling wine, corks are squeezed by the jaws of the corker.  These jaws reduce the diameter of the corks so they can be punched into the bottles with ease.  It then takes a full day or two before the corks fully expand in the bottle.

I could expand on the subject more, but for now, I should probably just put a cork in it.

For transcripts, links and more podcasts, please go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any words, historical facts, or tips on how I can keep my commentary more interesting than Ron Jaworski’s commentary so I don’t get fired like he did this year for being pretty boring on Monday Night Football, please send emails to, info@moonstonecellars.com.

And until next time, cheers to you!

TODDCAST EPISODE 11: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

NEW CLUB MEMBERS
DeAnna Boehm
Joe Hugenroth
Marc Weatherford
Stacy Kelley

What are Todd and Jill drinking tonight?

BIRTHDAYS
Elizabeth Miller’s (and she wins best abs contest!)
Marleen Doerk
Chip McGehee

LIBRARY ZINFANDEL PARTY RECAP
- Great Food from In Good Taste Catering!
- Silly games and prizes
- Lots of good old zins!
- Great Volunteers! (Susan & Pat Payne, William Walters, Jen Duarte)
- Library party–favorite poem:

There was a young man from Bordeaux
Who lived in a shoe-shaped chateau
He made White Zinfandel
Which the devil found swell
Now he crushes his grapes down below.

CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
Pam Martens    5 yrs
Jeff Miller 3 yrs
Pat & Susan Payne’s  34 wedding anniversary

PEOPLE BRINGING FOOD (randomly to the tasting room)
Vicki & Brad brought cheese & crackers
Susan & Pat brought homemade pickles, cheese
Doug & Marsh Carlson (cheese & crackers, summer sausage)

MMM WINNERS
- Kate
- Nancy

DOGS
Fred and Vladimir

MOONSTONE CELLARS ANNIVERSARY PARTY COMING UP

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS

Sex deprived fruit flies turn to alcohol.
See Full Story

Doesn’t seem like the nutrition labels are headed for wine bottles, good news.
See Full Story

What the frack?  Is fracking contaminating the irrigation water in the state’s vineyards?
See Full Story

ASK GRAPE STOMPER TODD
We get a call from Norway. We get a good question about labels. And we get a risque question from Tina’s mom.

Norwegian Translation:
“Hi Grape Stomper Todd, my name is Miguel Valenzuela and I am calling from Oslo Norway. I have a question for you. What wine you would recommend with lutefisk with a side of braised potatoes and bacon bits. We will be eating lutefisk for easter so I wanted to know what’s best. We listen to your show all the time and think it’s good. Very good.
Okay,
Thank you!”

CREDITS
Voice Over Talent – Andrew Dawson
Show Posting and Tagging – Robert Widmer
Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd