cellar rats

December 8 – “Cellar Rat”

Post image for December 8 – “Cellar Rat”

by Grape Stomper Todd on December 8, 2011

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:44 — 2.6MB)

Hello everyone and today is December 8th

And on this day in 1925, Sammy Davis, Jr. was born.  Primarily a dancer and singer,  Davis started as a child vaudevillian who went on to Broadway and super stardom on the Las Vegas Strip. He became a world famous recording artist, television and film star, and was known for doing spot-on impersonations of other celebrities.  But most people remember Sammy Davis, Jr. as one of Frank Sinatra‘s “Rat Pack“.

And that brings us to our Wine Word of the Day: Cellar Rat

Just like the Rat Pack was a term of affection from the media, workers in wineries are affectionately known as “cellar rats”.  And this term only applies to those in the cellar, and not to the tasting room staff behind the bar.

Cellar rats are a hard working bunch (no pun intended).  During harvest, their families are lucky to see them at all, as they are busy crushing and pressing grapes around the clock to meet the winemaker’s orders.

After harvest they are busy tending to barrels, cleaning tanks and equipment, and operating the bottling line.  The job is usually cold, wet, and can be very messy.  But without cellar rats, there would be very little wine.

Just like without the Rat Pack we would not know the songs like “The Red Grapes”, “I’ve Got A Crush On You”, “I Will Drink The Wine”, and “Little ‘Ole Wine Drinker Me.”  And in case you were wondering about the group’s reputation for womanizing and heavy drinking, Joey Bishop stated in a 1998 interview,  ”I never saw Frank, Dean, Sammy, or Peter drunk during performances. That was only a gag! And do you believe these guys had to chase broads? They had to chase ‘em away!”

For transcripts, links and more podcasts go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd.  If you have any suggestions for more words, historical tips or tips on how I could look just as cool as a Rat Packer while losing money at the tables in Vegas,  please send emails to wwd@moonstonecellars.com  and until next time, cheers to you!

Grape Stomper Todd also recommends:
Sammy Davis Jr The Definitive Collection Frank Sinatra Nothing But The Best
Toy Rubber Rat Rat Pack Playing Cards

Tagged as: cellar rats

{ 0 comments }

September 5 – “Industry”

by Grape Stomper Todd on September 5, 2010

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (1.9MB)

Labor Day labor is a labor of love.

Right click to download MP3 file

On this day in 1882, some 10,000 workers assembled in New York to participate in America’s first Labor Day parade.  This celebration was organized and executed by New York’s Central Labor Union.  There is still a debate on who originated the idea of it becoming a worker’s holiday, but it definitely stemmed from a desire to improve working conditions.

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

It’s not really an exclusive term in the wine business, but winery workers do refer to themselves as “in the industry.”  Especially when asking for an “industry discount” when trying to strike a deal for some hooch at a neighboring tasting room.

In 2005, there were over 1.1 million full time-equivalent wine jobs in the US.  As you might expect, these would include grape growers, wine-makers, tasting room staff, outside sales people and administrators.  My favorite job title, though is “Cellar Rat”.  These are the folks who dwell in the cellars dragging hoses, cleaning tanks, filling barrels and bottling wine.

Everyone in the wine industry would really like Labor Day off.  But, the tasting rooms are busy then, and  the growers might already be harvesting.  But as for the rats?  The fruit is on the way and if they are lucky, they might get a day off sometime before Christmas.  They’d probably organize for improved working conditions if they weren’t so busy.

Tagged as: barrels, cellar rats, industry, tanks

{ 0 comments }