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I’d rather have an organic bottling in front of me than a bullet in the belly!
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On this day in 1820, U.S. Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur, hero of the Barbary Wars, was mortally wounded in a duel with disgraced Navy Commodore James Barron at Bladensburg, Maryland.
Although once friends, Decatur sat on the court-martial that suspended Barron from the Navy for five years in 1808 and later opposed his reinstatement. This ultimately lead to a fatal quarrel between the two men.
Check out the show notes to learn more about how Stephen Decatur’s bravery and skill made him the youngest man in the history of the United States Navy to reach the rank of captain. He was a pretty amazing dude.
That brings us to our Wine Words of the Day: Organic and Sustainable
Why? Because Decatur, Georgia has a wine festival in November every year that showcases organic and sustainable wines.
Yes, Decatur, Georgia was named after the celebrated naval officer (which I find somewhat amusing since it’s not a seaport town).
Anyway, what’s an organic wine, you say? According to the US Department of Agriculture, to be “organic” a wine must be made with organically certified grapes grown without artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Then the wine has to be made with certain yeasts, and contain no added sulfites. Purists argue that organic wine should also be manipulated as little as possible, meaning winemakers should avoid the use of filtration, reverse osmosis, or the addition of wood chips.
Sustainable vineyard practices are all about the ecology of the vineyard. Growers attempt to be as natural as possible by avoiding artificial chemicals and preserving the harmony of the ecosystem around them. Techniques might include the use of beneficial insects to control pests, composting, and providing a habit around the vineyard for wild animals to live so they won’t eat the vines.
The rationale for organic and sustainable practices are that the wines made in these conditions truly reflect the essence of the land or “terroir,” as opposed to farming with non-native ingredients to alter the natural production of the vines in order to maximize profits or to appease influential wine critics.
There are many debates over the validity of “sustainable wine.” But regardless, it’s better than sustaining a gunshot wound to the abdomen and whining, “I did not know that any man could suffer such pain!” Just as Stephen Decatur did on his deathbed on this very day.
For transcripts, links, and more podcasts go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd. If you have any suggestions for more words, historic facts or tips on how to drink organic wine fast, because with no preservatives in it, that stuff is gonna go off like a corpse in the sun, please send emails to: wwd@moonstonecellars.com.
And until next time, cheers to you!
Links:
Decatur Georgia Wine Festival
Stephen Decatur Wiki
On this day in 1820, U.S. Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur, hero of the Barbary Wars, was mortally wounded in a duel with disgraced Navy Commodore James Barron at Bladensburg, Maryland.
Although once friends, Decatur sat on the court-martial that suspended Barron from the Navy for five years in 1808 and later opposed his reinstatement. This ultimately lead to a fatal quarrel between the two men.
Check out the show notes to learn more about how Stephen Decatur’s bravery and skill made him the youngest man in the history of the United States Navy to reach the rank of captain. He was a pretty amazing dude.
That brings us to our Wine Words of the Day: Organic and Sustainable
Why? Because Decatur, Georgia has a wine festival in November every year that showcases organic and sustainable wines.
Yes, Decatur, Georgia was named after the celebrated naval officer (which I find somewhat amusing since it’s not a seaport town).
Anyway, what’s an organic wine, you say? According to the US Department of Agriculture, to be “organic” a wine must be made with organically certified grapes grown without artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Then the wine has to be made with certain yeasts, and contain no added sulfites. Purists argue that organic wine should also be manipulated as little as possible, meaning winemakers should avoid the use of filtration, reverse osmosis, or the addition of wood chips.
Sustainable vineyard practices are all about the ecology of the vineyard. Growers attempt to be as natural as possible by avoiding artificial chemicals and preserving the harmony of the ecosystem around them. Techniques might include the use of beneficial insects to control pests, composting, and providing a habit around the vineyard for wild animals to live so they won’t eat the vines.
The rationale for organic and sustainable practices are that the wines made in these conditions truly reflect the essence of the land or “terroir,” as opposed to farming with non-native ingredients to alter the natural production of the vines in order to maximize profits or to appease influential wine critics.
There are many debates over the validity of “sustainable wine.” But regardless, it’s better than sustaining a gunshot wound to the abdomen and whining, “I did not know that any man could suffer such pain!” Just as Stephen Decatur did on his deathbed on this very day.
For transcripts, links, and more podcasts go to moonstonecellars.com/wwd. If you have any suggestions for more words, historic facts or tips on how to drink organic wine fast, because with no preservatives in it, that stuff is gonna go off like a corpse in the sun, please send emails to: wwd@moonstonecellars.com.
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A Rage for Glory: The Life of Commodore Stephen Decatur, USN |  |
Organic Wine Guide |
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Wild Wines: Creating Organic Wines from Nature’s Garden |  |
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