100K

Estimated number of different wine labels approved each year through a system called COLA (Certificate of Label Approval) which is regulated by the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) in the U.S. An exact count of the wines available at any one time in the U.S. is difficult since wines and vintages are always coming onto and going off of the market. In addition, the number of imports can change quickly as foreign wine regions actively try to get more of their wines into the U.S., now the largest wine market in the world.

What is Dôle?

A. A fruity, licoricey, bitter-edged wine made with dolcetto grapes in Piedmont, Italy

B. The nickname for the system in apartheid-era South Africa whereby the jobless were given bulk wine as a portion of their unemployment benefits

C. Sparkling pineapple wine produced by Tedeschi Winey, a partnership between California vintners and Ulupalakua Ranch on Maui, Hawaii

D. The most popular red wine blend in French-speaking Switzerland

Dôle, a light and fruity red wine blend, meant to be enjoyed in its youth, is based on two of the most widely planted red grapes in Switzerland’s Valais wine region—pinot noir and gamay. In the late 1950s, Dôle became a protected appellation in the Valais. The blend must be comprised of at least 85% pinot noir and gamay, with pinot dominating. Other red grape varieties including syrah and the indigenous varieties humagne rouge and cornalin are also allowed. Valais is the largest of Switzerland’s six wine regions and extends over 60 miles (100 kilometers) along the river Rhône.

And here are three fascinating facts about Switzerland wine country:
• Switzerland is primarily a red wine producer
• There are roughly 1650 producers in the country
• It has some of the steepest vineyards in the world

“I’ll Have the Special, Thanks”

So there you are—staring at a menu item that reads “Prawns Human Taste” (ah: Hunan Taste?) According to Atlas Obscura’s fantastic piece, “Why Menu Translations Go Terribly Wrong,” these aren’t just typos. Translating the names… Continue reading

100K

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