2) Wine

· Biodynamic Wine Making

· The Wonderful World of Rose’

3) Beer

· Visiting Mehana Brewery

· April Beer trivia

4) Cuisine

· April fare by Korene

5) Cigar 101

· Learning about cigars from Bernie continued!

 

“Who’s more foolish? The fool, or the fool who follows him?”-Obi Wan Kenobi (Ep. IV)

 April is one of those months that seems a little lacking of good holidays. April 15th is nowhere near a holiday, and the closest we’ve got is: All Fool’s Day or April Fool’s day. All Fool’s Day, as I like to call it, has ancient origins that have become very speculated. There is a general consensus of how it originated, and it seems plausible enough. So, I am going to accept the following information as the best description of origin for the day, and enjoy it as much as I can.

 

 

 

 

 

Apparently, up until 1582, New Year’s Day was celebrated on April 1st. During this same year, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a new Gregorian Calendar that replaced the previous Julian calendar. New Year’s Day was then celebrated on January 1st, and those Europeans whom either refused to accept the change, or were unaware of it, were ridiculed by those in the know. These people were repeatedly sent on “Fools errands” or tricked into believing something that was false. As with anything this old, there is not definite proof. Some contend that the Gregorian calendar had not been accepted in England until 1752, but All Fool’s Day was a regular event there. At least, All Fool’s Day is a day of levity, and we needn’t worry about serious explanations or theories.

 

I have collected some information and quotes that will hopefully appeal to your sense of humor in honor of the All Fool’s Day which comes and goes so quickly in the wonderful month of April. Please enjoy!

 

 

 

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Nicolas Sarkozy has reportedly ruffled royal feathers by demanding to see the Queen's wine list ahead of a state banquet. The Sun quotes a senior insider as saying: "It's a bizarre request. Even the most demanding French palate could not be disappointed by the choice of wines at Windsor Castle." The demand is particularly unusual because the French president is a teetotal (non-drinker), although new wife Carla Bruni enjoys fine wine. Windsor Castle's wine cellar was installed in the early 17th century and houses some of the world's most exclusive vintages. A spokesman for Buckingham Palace confirmed the wines had been chosen "in consultation" with the Elysee Palace.

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 A Lloyd's of London syndicate says it is insuring the nose of winemaker Ilja Gort for $8 million. The Dutch winemaker and taster took out the policy after hearing about a man who lost his sense of smell in a car accident. "I thought it must be a horror to lose your smell," Gort said. "It would mean that you cannot taste wine anymore. Tasting wine is something you do with your nose, not your mouth." Gort, 47, said his nose is essential for him to produce top quality wines at his Chateau de la Garde vineyard in the Bordeaux region of France. The custom policy covers Gort for the loss of either his nose or his sense of smell and has some conditions for protecting his nose. Among other things, he is barred from riding a motorcycle or working as a knife thrower's assistant or fire-breather.

 

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Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY    

 

 

 

 

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It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer, and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the "honey month", or what we know today as the "honeymoon".

 

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According to a diary entry from a passenger on the Mayflower, the pilgrims made their landing at Plymouth Rock, rather than continue to their destination in Virginia, due to lack of beer!

 

And finally,

 

“I feel sorry for people who don’t drink...when they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day!”

 

Frank Sinatra

 

 

French President, Nicolas Sarcozy

6) Editorial

· April’s ramblings by HWL