2.6 Million

Number of cases of California sparkling wine made by the traditional (Champagne) method sold last year. Sales of these top California sparklers are up for the 6th straight year, and anticipation is high for the coming holiday season. Several of California’s top sparkling wine companies were established in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Before those companies were founded, sales of California sparkling made by the traditional method hovered around 570,000 cases a year.

What food device was the inspiration behind an early design for Nike running shoes?

A. The popover baking pan

B. The garlic press

C. Tupperware bowls

D. The waffle iron

After using his wife’s waffle iron to imprint patterned grips on the soles of a new type of shoe, Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman applied for a patent in 1972. Bowerman later founded Nike which went on to manufacture running shoes with waffle-shaped rubber studs on the soles for better traction according to Smithsonian.com.

“Sometimes when I reflect back on all the wine I drink, I feel shame! Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the vineyards and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this wine, they might be out of work, and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, ‘It is better that I drink this wine and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.”

—Jack Handey, humorist

2.6 Million

Get WineSpeed