September 22
The best kind of wine is that which is most pleasant to him who drinks it. ~ Pliny the Elder (Editor’s note: I’ve always preferred “the Elder” to “the Younger”)
The annual event at Carlos Creek Winery which marks the harvest season for grapes plucked to be stomped upon. This stomping action is the initial process of making wine because whole grapes do not fit in a wine bottle. If they were making quacamole, they would harvest avocados to be peeled, sliced and diced, and tread upon. But they don’t. They grow grapes. Thus a harvest season event entitled grape stomp seems appropriate. Further thus, I then should not have digressed . . .
More important than the food pairing is the person with whom you drink the wine. ~ Christian Moueix
September 17
[This a visual representatition of severe emotional distress (have bear spray available in his presence) – either that or it’s just someone trying to clear his adenoids . . . ]
[We began the Stomp with Anthony Miltich outside at the Marquette Stage . . . ]
Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. ~ Francis Bacon
[Time for a stroll around the property – to see what’s up, what’s down, what’s hot, and what’s cold . . . ]
[Why yes, it is a bit of a fair . . . ]
I have even written a book about Wine called The Grapes of Ralph. ~ Ralph Steadman
I’ve been into the habit of freezing white grapes and using them as a snack. Instead of eating peanuts or popcorn or something like that or pretzels, I just eat the white grapes. ~ Mike Ditka
It’s true, some wine improves with age. But only if the grapes were good in the first place. ~ Abigail Van Buren
Nuts don’t come in bunches. Only grapes do. ~ John Sanford
Grilling grapes may sound crazy, but the smoky, blistered char they get from a few minutes on the fire gives them a deep, winelike character. ~ Jonathan Miles
A hangover is the wrath of grapes. ~ Dorothy Parker
Men are like a fine wine. They all start out like grapes, and it’s our job to stomp on them and keep them in the dark until they mature into something you’d like to have dinner with. ~ Jill Shalvis
[Where the grape stomping occurs . . . ]
The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes. ~ William Shakespeare
Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried with fewer tensions and more tolerance. ~ Benjamin Franklin
I never ate of the grapes nor feared of the eruptions. ~ David O. Selznick
[Ain’t we got fun?]
Always keep a bottle of Champagne in the fridge for special occasions. Sometimes, the special occasion is that you’ve got a bottle of Champagne in the fridge. ~ Hester Browne
[The Super and Karin, following the script, run up to “put bread in my jar” for Anthony . . . ]
The grape gains its purple tinge by looking at another grape. ~ Juvenal
Beulah, peel me a grape. ~ Mae West
[A photo destined to forever be in demand by MOMA, the Louvre, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! The five greatest guitar players of all time assembled on this date at the Grape Stomp at Carlos Creek Winery on the outskirts of Alexandria, Minnesota . . . ]
[From l-r: Erik Schultz, Jeff James, Robb Justice, Dave Berg, and Anthony Miltich. This rarity is forecast likely to not happen again until the next passing of Halley’s Comet . . . ]
I will drink milk when cows eat grapes. ~ Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Fresh grapes and wine are perhaps the most luscious foods we mortals encounter during our sojourn here. ~ Jeff Cox
You know, when I was a kid, I always thought I’d grow up to be a hero. ~ Butch Cassidy
[Music and table mate, Karin, sought and obtained photographic revenge . . . ]
[The Super working on her “Missing U @ . . . ” photo for Anthony . . . ]
[And here it is . . . ]
[After three hours with Anthony, we went inside for further entertainment from Robb Justice . . . ]
Bring me wine, but wine which never grew in the belly of the grape. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
He who loves not women, wine, and song remains a fool his whole life long. ~ Martin Luther
What I do and what I dream include thee, as the wine must taste of its own grapes. ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning
My goodness, everyone is planting grapes, even a neighbor with only five acres. ~ Doc Severinsen
The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people. ~ Cesar Chavez
[Have shown an increasing penchant for enjoying wine at live music events . . . ]
One of the disadvantages of wine is that it makes a man mistake words for thoughts. ~ Samuel Johnson
Wine … offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than possibly any other purely sensory thing which may be purchased. ~ Ernest Hemingway
I am certain that the good Lord never intended grapes to be made into grape jelly. ~ Fiorello H. La Guardia
[Going home after day one . . . ]
Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. ~ William Shakespeare
The best Chateauneuf-du-Papes are among the most natural expressions of grapes, place and vintage. Chateauneuf-du-Pape vineyards are farmed organically or biodynamically, and the region’s abundant sunshine and frequent wind (called ‘le mistral’) practically preclude the need for treating the fields with herbicides or pesticides. ~ Robert M. Parker, Jr. (Editor’s note: Been there . . . )
September 19
[The last of three days of grape stomping . . . ]
[The Super did the “Missing U @ . . . ” photo above for Donny Brang, who was new to us . . . ]
[We found him quite enjoyable . . . ]
[Up next, the Salty Dogs. Guitar player Erik was the sound technician for the entire Stomp . . . ]
[Annie, Greg, Erik, and Tom . . . ]
Wine rejoices the heart of man and joy is the mother of all virtues. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Editor’s note: Beware of those whose names are longer than their quotes.)
Oh, my fellow men, do not defile your bodies with sinful foods. We have corn, we have apples bending down the branches with their weight, and grapes swelling on the vines. ~ Pythagoras
I drink to make other people more interesting. ~ Ernest Hemmingway
Be careful to trust a person who does not like wine. ~ Karl Marx
Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever. ~ Aristophanes
For when the wine is in, the wit is out. ~ Thomas Becon
We are the Pros from Dover and we figure to crack this kid’s chest and get out to golf course before it gets dark. So you go find the gas-passer and you have him pre-medicate this patient. Then bring me the latest pictures on him. The ones we saw must be 48 hours old by now. Then call the kitchen and have them rustle us up some lunch. ~ Trapper John
Either give me more wine or leave me alone. ~ Rumi
[Doing her famous “Missing U @ . . . ” for Facebook . . . ]
[The result of the Super’s photo excursion above . . . ]
[After our usual table mates left to walk Gracie, we were joined by other Alexandria A-listers . . . ]
The discovery of a wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars. ~ Benjamin Franklin
[We partied on until the end of the show . . . ]
She gets to keep the chalet and the Rolls, I want the Montrachet. ~ Forbes Magazine
[When retired elementary school teachers cut loose . . . ]
Men are like wine – some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age. ~ Pope John XXIII
Wine is the most healthful and most hygienic of beverages. ~ Louis Pasteur
A gourmet meal without a glass of wine just seems tragic to me somehow. ~ Kathy Mattea
Age is just a number. It’s totally irrelevant unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine. ~ Joan Collins
I can certainly see that you know your wine. Most of the guests who stay here wouldn’t know the difference between Bordeaux and Claret. ~ Basil Fawlty
Give me wine to wash me clean of the weather-stains of cares. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Let us have wine and women, mirth and laughter, sermons and soda water the day after. ~ Lord Byron
In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage. ~ John Steinbeck
And Noah he often said to his wife when he sat down to dine, “I don’t care where the water goes if it doesn’t get into the wine. ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton
Up Next: Remains to be seen . . . or thought of . . .
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