Gallos Screwed Springtime

It was in the budding springtime when we made our pilgrimage toHautvillers across the swollen waters of the Marne at Epernay. Our waylay for a time along a straight level poplar-bordered road, with verdantmeadows on either hand, then diverged sharply to the left and wecommenced ascending the vine-clad hills, on a narrow plateau of whichthe church and abbey remains are picturesquely perched. Vines climb theundulating slopes to the summit of the plateau, and wooded heights riseup beyond, affording shelter from the bleak winds sweeping over from thenorth. As we near the village of Hautvillers we notice on our left handa couple of isolated buildings overlooking a small ravine with theirbright tiled roofs flashing in the sunlight. These prove to be a branchestablishment of Messrs. Charles Farre and Co., a well-knownchampagne firm having its head-quarters at Reims. The grassy spacebeyond, dotted over with low stone shafts giving light and ventilationto the cellars beneath, is alive with workmen unloading waggons denselypacked with new champagne bottles, while under a neighbouring shed is acrowd of women actively engaged in washing the bottles as they arebrought to them. The large apartment aboveground, known as thecellier, contains wine in cask already blended, and to bottlewhich preparations are now being made. On descending into the cellars,which, excavated in the chalk and of regular construction, comprise aseries of long, lofty, and well-ventilated galleries, we find themstocked with bottles of fine wine reposing in huge compact piles readyfor transport to the head establishment, where they16will undergo their final manipulation. The cellars consist of twostories, the lowermost of which has an iron gate communicating with theravine already mentioned. On passing out here and looking up behind wesee the buildings perched some hundred feet above us, hemmed in on everyside with budding vines.

gallos screwed springtime

Woop Woop, South Australia (Australia) Verdelho "V" 2006 ($12, Epicurean Wines): A Portugese grape, used (under the name of Gouveio) in the Duoro for white port and in Madeira, Verdelho is also cultivated successfully in Australia. Down Under, it yields wines with bright, tangy citrus flavors, firm acidity, and a full, fleshy texture. This reasonably-priced offering is fresh and lively, perfect for springtime sipping. 88 Paul Lukacs Mar 27, 2007

Palandri, Western Australia (Australia) Riesling 2006 ($12, Palandri America): Crisp and refreshing, with vivid apple and peach flavors enhanced by more than a hint of minerality, this Riesling, while full-fruited, is deliciously dry. Very fairly-priced, it should be extremely food friendly, and seems tailor made for springtime sipping. 89 Paul Lukacs Mar 11, 2008

The central figures of Greek mythology were the Twelve Olympians: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, Athena, Hermes, Apollo, Artemis, Hephaestus, Ares, Aphrodite, and Dionysus (versions vary on whether Hestia or Dionysus is the twelfth). While an important god, Hades lived in the Underworld and thus was not an Olympian. In Homer's portrayal, they were basically super-powered humans without the super- that comes standard with powers. Zeus, for example, was a philandering rapist, responsible for a large share of the god-human hybrids running around. Many of these became great heroes, the most famous of which was Hercules/Heracles/Herakles. Though you would think Zeus's sister-wife, Hera, would be a sympathetic character, she spends most of her free time taking out her frustrations on said heroes, probably because Zeus, said to be more powerful than all the other gods and goddesses combined, was beyond her ability to take any meaningful revenge on. Hades, while not as evil as his Theme Park Version, got his wife by kidnapping his niece Persephone (with Zeus's approval and assistance). This prompted the girl's mother, Demeter, to neglect the Earth, bringing winter. note More recently some have claimed it is actually summer, as Greece has mild winters but scorching summers (being a Mediterranean climate). However, the oldest Ancient Greek source on the subject, the Homeric Hymn to Demeter from the seventh century BCE, specifically states that Persephone returns to the Earth in springtime. And then there is Ares... well, he just about defines the word Jerkass.