Milsurp After Hours

Here's a new one from New Zealand

Purple Death? Is that the new name for the foreign version of Red Dagger? When I was young Red Dagger was considered the worst cheap domestic wine in the US. Only the lowest tramp winos and teenagers would make a stab at drinking it.

Is that worse than Thunderbird or Mad Dog 20/20.
(Although it was really MD 20/20, and I think the MD was Mogan David, but we called it Mad Dog.)

Vern.

WHY IS WINE SOLD IN 75cl BOTTLES?

A standard wine bottle contains 75cl. Not a liter or a pint, WHY?
It was standardized in the 19th C but where does the size come from?
Perhaps the lung capacity of a glassblower...............
The average consumption during a meal...............
A good size to easily store...............
Ease of transportation.......................
Well, actually non of these and surprisingly it has nothing to do with French or European legislation ( which since the 2007 directive allows 8 different volumes of container from 100ml to 1.5 ltrs! )
The answer, is a historic one that encompasses historical sense and practicality.
At the time of it's 'standardization' the main buyers of French Wines were - The English!
Now, France and Britain had different systems then; the British using the 'Imperial gallon' which was exactly 4.54609 liters.
To prevent problems with conversions, Bordeaux wines were shipped in barrels of 255 liters or 50 gallons (rounded figures). This meant that 225 liters = 300 bottles of 75cl - or 1 barrel = 300 bottles.
So, one gallon was 6 bottles..........So even today, wine is sold by the case - 12 bottles or the ½ case - 6 bottles.

French Wine - Drink or Lay Down?

Here is a good guide......................

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink ... -2011.html

Thank you Duncan for revitalizing this post.
I'd missed it.

I'm one Aussie that doesn't like cold beer (ref. Tom May's post), my time in England and Ireland taught me to appreciate the taste of various beers and one really can't appreciate the brewers art with frozen taste buds.

Aughnanure wrote:Thank you Duncan for revitalizing this post.
I'd missed it.

I'm one Aussie that doesn't like cold beer (ref. Tom May's post), my time in England and Ireland taught me to appreciate the taste of various beers and one really can't appreciate the brewers art with frozen taste buds.

My pleasure Eoin!

Since coming to live in here in 2002 I have made a point of trying to learn about wine and how it is produced, not only from a personal enjoyment point of view but also so I can answer questions from the people who rent out holiday gite.
I would be the first to admit that there is a lot of bullshit talked about it BUT, when you drill down into the subject, it is really fascinating.
One thing that amazes me is the physical work that is involved in production.

Every year there is a wine fair in the Citadelle in Blaye with around 80 of the local Chateaux present offering tastings. We have not missed one since 2003 and I have noticed how it has become more interesting every year. We know some of the growers and stop off and taste their wares as well as discuss things with them. This year we bought 6 cases while we were there - 66 bottles........

In an earlier post you stated that there were 12 bottles in a case of wine.
Now you say you bought 6 cases and got 66 bottles, did you drink one
bottle out of each case on the way home?
Glad I wasn't riding with you.................

.

Niner Delta wrote:In an earlier post you stated that there were 12 bottles in a case of wine.
Now you say you bought 6 cases and got 66 bottles, did you drink one
bottle out of each case on the way home?
Glad I wasn't riding with you.................

.

No - one was only a little case

Says it all really..............