Thanks to Everyone who submitted answers to our
Quiz of Fun Facts.
Congratulations to the winner, Bob and Jacki Folwell.
As we said as we published the quiz, some answers are debatable (different sources cite different information) but the “correct” answers for this quiz are those provided in the Fun Facts of our blog. Numbers 3 and 4 are two answers that vary based on the source. The answers below are directly from the Fun Facts of our blog. Notations about different answers (but not those in our Fun Facts) are provided in italics. These "answers" were not considered as "correct" for the quiz.
1. The pressure in a bottle of Champagne is about
90 pounds per square inch. That’s about three times the pressure in car tires.
2. It takes an average of
600 grapes to make one bottle of wine.
3.
Chardonnay is one of the most planted grapes in the world with over 400,000 acres world-wide. It is also planted in more wine regions than any other grape (wikipedia).
Another cite in Wikipedia says that Airen is the most widely planted wine grape (mostly in Spain) based on number of hectares or acres planted. It cites 760,000 acres being planted of Airen (as of 2006), although it also said many vines were being pulled and replaced with other grapes such as Tempranillo. Since Airen is not planted as densely as Chardonnay and many other wine grapes, it probably does not hold the record for the most vines in the world. Today, it is generally acknowledged that Chardonnay is the most “widely” planted grape in the world when you consider the number of vines and different locations where it is grown. Cabernet Sauvignon comes close too, but Chardonnay grows better than Cabernet in a wider variety of climates and geographies, that is in “more wine regions” than any other wine grape.
4. The current "Guinness Book of World Records" record wine toast is held by the UK where
17,429 people toasted at over 400 pubs.
We found this number in an article published in PA Wine News on August 6th. On August 14th, PA Wine News published another article citing 17,450 as the record. A search today of Guinness records indicates that this record was broken on January 5, 2010 with 26,564 people simultaneously toasting at a concert in Albufeira, Portugal.
5. There are an estimated
49 million bubbles in a bottle of champagne. Bubbles were viewed by early winemakers as an undesirable defect.
6.
Cabernet Franc is one of the parent grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, having been bred with
Sauvignon Blanc to create Cabernet Sauvignon.
7. The largest cork tree in the world (on record) is in Portugal. It averages over 1 ton of raw cork per harvest, enough to cork
100,000 bottles of wine.
8. Claret is another name (usually) for a
red Bordeaux Blend. In the 14th century, when France began exporting red Bordeaux to England, the English called it Claret because it was lighter and more clear than the deep, dark red Spanish wines they were used to. At that time, the red grape skins were removed quickly when making Bordeaux, leaving a much lighter, clearer rose color than we are used to today
9. Many countries and appellations, including most in the USA, allow up to
25% of a different wine to be blended into a varietal without indicating so on the label. Often, you can find this information in a specific wine's technical data on the winery's website, but not always.
10. The corkscrew was invented when wine was just starting to be stored in bottles rather than terra cotta amphoras and then oak barrels. Once a narrow-necked bottle was created, wine could finally be safely stored for longer periods with the help of a cork. The earliest known patent for the corkscrew was in England in
1795. (From “History of the Corkscrew” by Mary Bellis).
UPDATED List of Silent Auction Items for the USA vs France Blind Wine Tasting, September 18.
NOTE: We can only accept cash or checks for silent auction items and for registration.
For information about this event, see our previous blogs.
To check on availability of seats, call us at 610.469.6164 or email us at vintageconnections@comcast.net
EVEN NEWER SILENT AUCTION ITEMS!
"Rose: Solo Harp Music for Reflection and Relaxation" CD by
Betsy Chapman
Betsy will be playing at the event. Click on the link to her website above.
Value - $10
Donated by Betsy Chapman
3 Month Membership,
Lady of America Fitness Center (Royersford)
Value - TBD
Donated by Lady of America Fitness Center
NEW ITEMS!
Napa Valley Wine Basket
including
2002 Vincent Arroyo Winery, Petite Sirah
2002 Summers Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Ledson Winery, Chardonnay
2006 Raymond Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc
Value - $129 (minimum bid $50)
Donated by Lori Law
Value - $25
Donated by Brasserie 73
Value - $35
Donated by In Touch Massage
Items Previously Posted
Manatawny Creek Winery Basket of Wine, etc.
Value - $50
Donated by the Winery
Pinnacle Ridge Winery Basket of Wine and Goodies
Value - $50
Donated by the Winery
Vynecrest Winery Basket of Wine, etc.
Value - $50
Donated by the Winery
Wine Gift Basket
Value - $100 (minimum bid may apply)
Donated by Vintage Connections (Dean and Lisa Foster)
"Getaway Weekend" in Wine Country. A weekend at
a beautiful cottage in the Hudson Valley near the
Shawangunk Wine Trail.
Date restrictions apply and winner must provide own transportation.We suggest choosing a weekend during the
Wreath Fineries at the Wineries (winners must purchase own tickets)
Value - $450 (minimum bid $100)
Donated by Kim and Drew Wallace
Three Wine Books
Value - $100
"What to Drink with What you Eat"
"Cheese and Wine Book"
"Wine, Food & Friends"
Donated by John and Carol Conboy
One Week Condo Rental, Perdido Key FLA
Date restrictions apply and winner must provide own transportation.
Value - $600 (minimum bid $100)
Donated by Joe and Cecelia Sapira
One Week Condo Rental, Vermont
Date restrictions apply and winner must provide own transportation.
Value - $700 (minimum bid $100)
Donated by Vern and Jacki Hunsberger
Gift Certificate for 4 people for a 2-hour baking or cake decorating class at Churchill's Baker and Chocolatier (Pottstown)
Value - $400 (minimum bid may apply)
Donated by Churchill's Baker and Chocolatier
Schuylkill River Heritage Area Basket of Books, Maps, Mug, etc.
Value - $200
Donated by the Heritage Area
Two, one-hour clinical massages at
Academy of Massage and Body Works (Pottstown)
Value $60 ($30 per hour)
Donated by Academy of Massage and Body Works
Original Photograph
Value - $100 (minimum bid TBD)
Donated by Fairyland Photography (Lisa Foster)
"Bottle Shock" Movie Night Gift Basket
Value - $50
Donated by John and Denise Nase
Framed and matted sailing print, Balangier item # 411778
Value - $250 (minimum bid TBD)
Donated by Chris and Frank Giesa
Wine Bottle cheese dish (melted wine bottle) and cheese knife
Value - $25
Donated by Walt and Mary Koser
Gift Certificate for art class at
Gallery School of Pottstown
Value - $180
Donated by the Gallery School of Pottstown
Gift Certificate (maximum $25) towards a non-credit course at
Montgomery County Community College
Value - $25
Donated by Montgomery County Community College Lifelong and Continuing Education
Awesome MCCC logo Sports Bag including mugs, poster, etc.
Value - $50
Donated by Montgomery County Community College Foundation
Gift Basket including MCCC logo gifts, bird feeders, gardening trinkets, and more
Value - $100
Donated by Montgomery County Community College Admissions
Two tickets to "Wait Until Dark" on Thursday, September 30, 7:30 PM at the
Tri-County Performing Arts Center (Pottstown)
(note date restriction)
Value - $34
Donated by Tri-County Performing Arts Center
Gift Certificate to Positively Pasta Plus (Pottstown)
Value - $20
Donated by Positively Pasta Plus
Three piece Hurricane Tea light set
Value - TBD
Donated by Carol and John Conboy
Neoprene Double Wine Tote
Value - $20
Donated by Carol and John Conboy
Gift Certificate to
Piazza Presto (Limerick)
Value - $40
Donated by Piazzo Presto
Glass Vase
Value TBD
Donated by Bob Carman
Owned and operated by a pair of self-proclaimed hippies, their tasting room is full of 60's and 70's memorabilia, psychedelic lighting, and odd and unusual wines-everything from unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon to Blackberry Merlot, from Seyval to Chocolate Cherry and other chocolate fruit wines, to veggie wines including hot pepper wine with a hint of garlic. It's odd, it's different, but it's fun!
This time we are highlighting Vynecrest's Pinot Noir. This 2009 vintage is a pleasant surprise after last year's very wet season. Bright ruby red in color it displays fresh fruit aromas with a flavors of red fruits and earthy overtones. Available only at the winery for $14.99 a bottle. Great with grilled portabella mushrooms. 
Posts
